The recent surge in measles cases in Borno State, Nigeria, has sparked growing concern among health officials and international aid organizations. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported a worrying spike in measles cases, with nearly 10,000 patients treated in the past 12 months and a record 3,965 cases from October to December 2023.
In the state, the number of reported measles cases has steadily risen, reaching a staggering 7,000 in the last quarter of 2023. This upward trend has continued into 2024, with nearly a thousand additional cases reported since the start of the year. The situation has prompted Dr Jombo Okoli, a physician at the Gwange-3 Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Maiduguri, to report a daily influx of at least 30 suspected measles cases, primarily among children under the age of ten.
Médecins Sans Frontières has been at the forefront of addressing this public health crisis, treating a total of 9,618 measles cases in its healthcare facilities, including the Gwange Paediatric Hospital and Nilefa Kiji Nutrition Hospital, as well as MSF-supported primary healthcare (PHC) centres in Maiduguri. The organization’s efforts have been continuously challenged by the relentless spread of the highly contagious viral disease.
Abdulkareem Yakubu, MSF field communication officer, emphasized the urgency of reinforcing routine immunization campaigns in response to the surging number of measles cases. Despite existing vaccination efforts, the outbreak has persisted, leading to a call for immediate and concerted action to curb its impact on the local population.
The magnitude of the measles outbreak in Borno State underscores the pressing need for robust public health interventions aimed at preventing and containing infectious diseases. As the reported cases continue to rise, collaborative efforts between health authorities and humanitarian organizations are imperative to mitigate the spread of measles and safeguard the well-being of the affected communities.
