Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — Nigeria has recorded 153 deaths from measles between January and November 2025, according to the latest situation report released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), highlighting the persistence of the highly infectious viral disease and ongoing gaps in vaccination coverage nationwide.
The NCDC report, made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, shows that a total of 19,213 confirmed measles cases were documented across the country during the 11‑month period, out of 26,866 suspected cases reported from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Childhood deaths linked to measles have emerged as a major public health concern, with the 153 fatalities recorded among confirmed cases representing a case fatality rate of approximately 0.8 per cent.
Health officials emphasise that measles remains one of the most contagious infectious diseases, spreading through coughing, sneezing or close contact with infected individuals. Symptoms typically include high fever, rash, red eyes and respiratory illness, and complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, particularly among young children and those with weakened immune systems.
The report reveals that the burden of measles is disproportionately concentrated among the youngest age groups. Children aged 9 to 59 months accounted for nearly half (about 48.9 per cent) of confirmed cases, underscoring the vulnerability of infants and toddlers in communities with limited access to routine immunisations.
A striking finding of the NCDC’s analysis is that over 77 per cent of confirmed measles infections occurred in children who had not received even a single dose of the vaccine — classified as “zero‑dose” cases. This statistic highlights significant gaps in Nigeria’s immunisation programme and the need to strengthen routine vaccination efforts, particularly in underserved and high‑risk areas.
The geographic distribution of measles cases also reflects regional disparities in disease burden. States in the northern part of the country — including Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi and Kebbi — accounted for more than two‑thirds of all suspected cases, pointing to continuing challenges in vaccination coverage and healthcare access in those regions.
Although the number of suspected cases reported in November was relatively modest, with 71 suspected cases and only one confirmed infection, the disease remains present in pockets across the country. As of the end of November 2025, only one Local Government Area — Eti‑Osa in Lagos State — had an ongoing measles outbreak, while outbreaks in 187 LGAs across 27 states had reportedly ended.
Public health authorities have renewed calls for intensified vaccination campaigns, particularly in the lead‑up to the dry season when measles transmission typically peaks. In October 2025, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu launched a nationwide Measles‑Rubella vaccine introduction and integrated campaign, aiming to immunise approximately 106 million children aged nine months to under 15 years. The initiative, described as one of the largest health campaigns in Africa’s history, seeks to bolster population immunity and reduce the incidence of measles and other vaccine‑preventable diseases.
Health experts stress that strengthening routine immunisation systems, expanding outreach services to hard‑to‑reach communities, and ensuring adequate vaccine supply and logistics are essential to stem future outbreaks. Without sustained efforts to raise vaccination coverage, especially among children in underserved regions, measles will remain a persistent threat to child health and survival in Nigeria.
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