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Published Date: 2011-01-27 02:42:57
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - Nigeria: (Bauchi)
Archive Number: 20110127.217665

MEASLES - NIGERIA: (BAUCHI)
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Date: Wed 26 Jan 2011
Source: Nigerian Compass [edited]
http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73931

Bauchi State has recorded over 2000 cases of measles in its 20 local government areas, with 3 councils taking the lead. Bauchi, Katagum, and Toro local government areas have the highest number of cases within the 1st 20 days of the year [2011].

It is alarming, compared with reported cases of the disease within the same period last year [2010].

This was disclosed to Journalists Initiatives on Immunisation against Polio (JAP) during an in-house training for members the Bauchi State chapter of the body by a World Health Organisation (WHO) consultant, Dr Habu Dahiru, who described that outbreak as alarming.

Dahiru also said that surveillance indicated that the outbreak had spread to children above the initial target of under 5 years, a development, he said, called for urgent attention by all concerned medical and health authorities to check its spread to others areas.

He, however, gave an assurance that WHO and other donor agencies, including the United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) are always ready to intervene.

Dahiru called on journalists to support the campaign through regular adequate coverage as well as by enlightening the public on the need to cooperate during the immunisation and vaccination exercise scheduled to be held later in the month [January 2011].

He pointed out that fixed posts have been put in place at all health facilities across the state for vaccination while mobile posts would go from house to house to vaccinate children under 5 years.

Mrs Mojisola Afolabi of WHO said that the situation was still redeemable, if all hands were on deck, especially the medical and health workers, pointing out that involvement of Journalists in the Integrated Measles Campaign (IMC) would be of added advantage as people would be made aware that the disease was around.

She reiterated that the IMC would be done alongside the normal Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) to ensure that the state maintains its zero WPV status attained since September 2009 when the last case was recorded in Dambam Local Government Area.

The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Musa Mohammed Dambam, confirmed the outbreak but assured that enough vaccine was expected from the National
Primary Healthcare Development Agency as well as other donor agencies for the IMC later in the month [January 2011].

He also expressed worry that the situation has become more difficult with the infection of people of older ages by the disease thereby increasing morbidity by at least 2 per cent.

Dambam, however, gave an assurance that the situation would soon get back to normal while calling on journalists to join in the campaign through their various media organisations.

He called on the people to immediately report cases of measles to the nearest health facility across the state for prompt attention, saying that the health facilities have been equipped to handle emergency cases while the worst cases would be referred to general and specialist hospitals across the state.

[Byline: Theophilus Remi]

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Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-EAFR

[Bauchi has reported a measles outbreak that has even affected persons older than 5 years, an indication that unvaccinated cohorts have accumulated in these age-groups over the recent years. This therefore requires catch-up campaigns to be implemented targeting children younger than 15 years and subsequent follow-up campaigns targeting children less than 5 years, at least every 2 years. This should be done alongside routine vaccination for infants as well as strengthened case surveillance with laboratory investigation.

Maps of Nigeria can be seen athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_Nigeria and
http://healthmap.org/r/0opg. - Mod.JFW]

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