An emergency measles vaccination campaign has been launched in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in partnership with the Zamfara State Ministry of Health and the Zurmi LGA authorities, in response to a deadly outbreak of the disease that has already claimed the lives of 24 children.
The six-day campaign, which kicked off today, is targeting children aged between 6 months and 5 years, most of whom are unvaccinated and highly vulnerable. According to MSF, the goal is to quickly curb the spread of the disease and prevent more deaths, especially in underserved communities where healthcare access remains limited.
Alongside vaccinations, MSF teams are conducting malnutrition screenings using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurements, referring undernourished children to nearby health centres for urgent treatment.
The intervention follows a dramatic rise in measles cases in the area, with over 1,600 suspected cases reported across all 11 wards in Zurmi as of early May. The figure far exceeds epidemic thresholds. Many of the affected children are also battling coexisting illnesses such as malaria and eye infections, with a case fatality rate currently standing at 1.2%.
In a statement, MSF’s Head of Mission in Nigeria, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, described the situation as a “double crisis of disease and hunger.”
“We are seeing a sharp rise in measles cases, along with high levels of malnutrition, which makes children even more vulnerable,” he said.
A nutrition assessment conducted by MSF in June 2024 revealed that over 25% of children in Zurmi were undernourished, and more than 4% were suffering from severe acute malnutrition—well above emergency levels defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The MSF-run treatment centre at Zurmi General Hospital continues to admit increasing numbers of children with severe complications related to malnutrition.
To ensure widespread coverage, MSF is deploying both fixed vaccination points and mobile teams capable of reaching children in remote or conflict-affected areas. The target is to vaccinate at least 95% of children within the age group to achieve community immunity and halt the spread.
This new campaign comes after a June 2024 effort that managed to reach only 59% of targeted children due to vaccine shortages and security challenges. Areas hardest hit in the current outbreak include Zurmi town, Dauran Birnin Tsaba, Mayasa Kuturu, and Rukudawa.
MSF is calling on other health partners and authorities to support the urgent response to ensure that every child in the region receives both the care and protection they desperately need.
