Nigeria: Health Ministry Raises Alert Over Imminent Measles Outbreak-

Text of report by Nigerian newspaper This Day website on 23 January

The Epidemiology Department of the Federal Ministry of Health, has confirmed that an estimated 50,000 lives may be lost in Nigeria to an imminent Measles and Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis out break if immediate measures are not put in place to prevent it.

The Federal Ministry of Health in a study conducted in 2007, showed that about 5, 246 new “suspected cases” of measles were recorded in the country largely in the Northern part in the last October.

Out of the figure 968 (18 per cent) was later “confirmed”, while another 577 (11 per cent) cases were identified as German Measles, otherwise known as “Rubella”. The Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange, confirmed the statistics in Abuja at a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Health.

She said the outbreak, which would be the “Third Peak” or “Third Cycle” to hit Nigeria, would be both devastating and embarrassing. Professor Grange explained that the country had recorded outbreaks in the past but added that the severity of the imminent crisis would be worse than previous cases.

The minister, who appeared before the Committee said to prevent the outbreak, massive immunization outside the routine immunization programme should be embarked upon for the diseases. The committee had summoned her to confirm whether the reported cases of measles, particularly German measles, in Kano and Jigawa States recently were true and what her ministry was doing to contain the situation.

“Yes, indeed, there is an outbreak; not just in those two states, but in several others in the country, but not an epidemic yet, ” she told the committee. She said nobody died in Kano and Jigawa States but warned that unless the rate of spread was checked with adequate funding and sensitization, there was no guarantee that lives would not be lost soon.

Singling out the situation in Kano, the minister explained that measles was bouncing back because of the “problem of rejection of vaccination” by parents. According to her, the study found out that 74 per cent of children with measles attacks in the state as at October, were those who should have been immunized but could not because of the rejection factor. German measles (Rubella), according to Grange, is different from the normal measles, which attacks children and does not kill.

“The problem is when it occurs during a general measles outbreak, it is difficult to isolate Rubella from the other measles”, she added. She, however, stated that pregnant women in the First Trimester (three months) and girls were at risk as they could pass the disease to their unborn children if they were not immunized.

Grange explained further that children born by such women could develop “congenital conditions and abnormality.” To contain the situation, Grange called for massive immunization of school children, especially girls, so that their babies would not be born with abnormality.

Originally published by This Day website, Lagos, in English 23 Jan 08.

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