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Public health round-up

A measles vaccination campaign was launched last month in north eastern Nigeria to protect more than four million children against the highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease. Children between the ages of six months and 10 years were vaccinated in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, Nigerian states where the health services have been disrupted for more than four years because of the conflict in Borno. The campaign overcame major logistical challenges of insecurity, difficult terrain, poorly functioning health facilities and the need for cold chain conditions. The humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict in Borno State has resulted in more than 1.4 million displaced people in more than 100 camps. “Many of the children targeted for measles vaccination have severe malnutrition, making them extremely vulnerable to serious complications and death from measles,” says Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Nigeria. The measles campaign was planned using population data gathered by Nigeria’s polio vaccination programme and with help from its staff who have immunization experience across the country. During the measles campaign, the vaccine was given to children between the ages of one and 10 years, along with deworming medication and vitamin A supplements to the children who were aged between six months and five years. To prevent duplication, especially in schools and camps for displaced people, vaccination cards were issued to all vaccinated children and their thumbs were marked with pens. From early September to 18 December 2016, an early warning, alert and response system established by WHO reported more than 1500 suspected measles cases in Borno State alone. WHO is supporting the health authorities in the three Nigerian states by providing expertise in logistics, data management, training, monitoring and evaluation, human resources and waste management. Other partners involved in the campaign include the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United States Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and nongovernmental organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). http://www.who.int/features/2017/ measles-vaccination-nigeria