Source: Lara Adejoro

Measles . Web.photo

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised the alarm over rising measles cases in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to scale up routine immunisation coverage and accelerate disease prevention strategies nationwide.

Speaking at a media roundtable in Abuja, Dr. Joseph Forbi, an epidemiologist with the CDC Nigeria’s Global Immunisation Division, described measles as one of the leading causes of childhood illness and death globally—and Nigeria remains among the top 10 countries with the highest case numbers.

Measles in Nigeria: The Alarming Statistics

In 2024 alone, Nigeria reported:

• Over 20,000 suspected cases
• 10,000 confirmed cases
• Most among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children

Dr. Forbi revealed that only 60% of Nigerian children receive the first dose of the measles vaccine on schedule—leaving an estimated three million children unprotected.

Following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, measles outbreaks have occurred in every state in the country, many of which are still ongoing.

A Global Surge in Measles

According to the World Health Organization, measles is resurging globally, with 10.3 million cases in 2023, a 20% increase from the previous year. Over 22 million children worldwide missed their first dose in 2023 alone.

Dr. Forbi stressed:

“Measles is extremely infectious—one person can infect up to 18 others who are not immune. It can survive in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.”

Symptoms include:

• High fever
• Cough and runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Rash and in severe cases, disability or death

Nigeria’s Strategy to Eliminate Measles by 2030

Patricia Tanifum, Programme Director of CDC Nigeria GID, emphasized that Nigeria is committed to achieving measles elimination by 2030 under a global agenda. She said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is working with the CDC and development partners to bridge existing gaps.

Dr. Forbi confirmed that the Federal Government has adopted a national strategic plan focusing on:

• Strengthening routine immunisation
• Enhancing disease surveillance
• Improving outbreak response

Signs of Progress

Despite ongoing challenges, Nigeria is seeing early signs of improvement:

• Week 22, 2024: 8,405 suspected cases, 1,953 confirmed
• Week 22, 2025: 6,238 suspected cases, 1,403 confirmed

This decline, Dr. Forbi said, reflects the impact of collaborative efforts between Nigeria’s health agencies, CDC, and partners like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

CDC’s Support for Nigeria

The CDC has provided key technical and operational support, including:

• Backing mass vaccination campaigns (2023–2024)
• Establishing a robust laboratory network with 6 zonal labs, 1 state lab, and a national reference lab
• Supplying diagnostic reagents and hosting training for health workers
• Supporting Nigeria’s Gavi grant application to vaccinate over 100 million children aged 9 months to 15 years

Dr. Forbi concluded:

“We are also preparing for the 2025/2026 mass vaccination catch-up campaign to close immunity gaps and protect the next generation.”