Doctors Without Borders has begun an emergency measles vaccination in Zurmi amid rising child deaths.
Over 1,600 cases reported, with many children also battling hunger and severe malnutrition.
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), in collaboration with the Zamfara State Ministry of Health and the Zurmi Local Government Authority, has kicked off an emergency measles vaccination campaign in Zurmi to contain a deadly outbreak.
The initiative follows a worrying surge in measles cases, which has already claimed the lives of 24 children in the area this year alone, according to MSF. Most of the victims were under the age of five and had not received any measles vaccination.
Measles, classified by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) as an acute and highly contagious viral infection, remains a leading cause of death among children globally. The virus, part of the Paramyxoviridae family, poses an especially serious threat in regions with low immunization rates and limited access to healthcare.
In a statement released Tuesday, MSF disclosed that over 1,600 suspected measles cases have been reported across all 11 wards of Zurmi LGA since early May exceeding the epidemic threshold. Many of the affected children also suffered from coexisting conditions such as malaria, eye infections, and malnutrition, exacerbating the severity of their illness. The current case fatality rate stands at 1.2 percent.
To respond swiftly, MSF has deployed a six-day vaccination campaign, which began on July 8. The campaign is aimed at immunizing children aged six months to five years. The goal is to reach at least 95% of the targeted population to halt the spread of the disease and reduce mortality.
“Children in Zurmi are battling a dual emergency measles and hunger,” said Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, MSF’s Head of Mission in Nigeria. “We’re seeing not only a spike in measles infections but also alarming levels of malnutrition that further weaken children’s ability to survive.”
As part of the campaign, MSF teams are also conducting malnutrition screenings using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tools. Undernourished children identified during the campaign are being referred to nearby health centres for urgent treatment.
To maximize coverage, MSF is operating both fixed vaccination posts and mobile outreach teams capable of reaching children in remote and underserved communities. However, past efforts have been hindered. A previous vaccination drive in June 2024 reached only 59% of the target population due to vaccine shortages and security challenges in some areas.
The current outbreak has hit hardest in locations such as Zurmi town, Dauran Birnin Tsaba, Mayasa Kuturu, and Rukudawa. These communities face significant barriers to healthcare access and have limited routine vaccination services.
MSF highlighted a recent nutritional survey in June 2024 which found that over 25% of children in Zurmi are undernourished, with more than 4% suffering from severe acute malnutrition far above the World Health Organisation’s emergency thresholds. The organisation’s treatment centre at Zurmi General Hospital continues to record a growing influx of children with life-threatening malnutrition-related conditions.
Calling for broader support, MSF urged all health partners, government agencies, and stakeholders to contribute to the urgent response to save lives.
Meanwhile, data from the NCDC shows that Nigeria recorded 6,596 suspected measles cases across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of May 31, 2025, underscoring the national scale of the problem.
