MSF Launches Urgent Measles Vaccination Drive in Zurmi, Zamfara State
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in partnership with the Zamfara State Ministry of Health and the Zurmi Local Government Authority, has kicked off an emergency measles vaccination campaign in Zurmi LGA in response to a sharp rise in infections that has already led to the deaths of 24 children this year.
Most of the children who died were under five and had not received any measles vaccinations.
The six-day campaign, which began on July 8, targets children aged 6 months to 5 years, aiming to contain the outbreak and prevent further fatalities.
In addition to vaccinations, MSF teams are conducting malnutrition screenings using the MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) method. Children identified as undernourished will be referred to nearby health centres for treatment.
By early May, over 1,600 suspected measles cases had been reported across all 11 wards in Zurmi LGA — well above the epidemic threshold.
Many affected children were already dealing with other health challenges such as malaria, malnutrition, and eye infections, which have worsened outcomes. The current mortality rate stands at 1.2%.
To reach as many children as possible, MSF is deploying both stationary vaccination points and mobile teams to serve remote and inaccessible communities.
The goal is to immunize at least 95% of children in the target group to break the chain of transmission and curb the outbreak.
A previous campaign in June 2024 only reached 59% of children due to limited vaccine supply and security-related access issues.
The current outbreak is most severe in areas with poor healthcare access, including Zurmi town, Dauran Birnin Tsaba, Mayasa Kuturu, and Rukudawa.
“Children in Zurmi are battling a double emergency: disease and malnutrition,” said Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, MSF’s Head of Mission.
“The rise in measles cases combined with high rates of malnutrition puts them at even greater risk.”
A recent nutrition survey conducted in June 2024 revealed that over 25% of children in Zurmi are undernourished, with more than 4% suffering from severe acute malnutrition — far exceeding emergency thresholds set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The MSF-supported treatment centre at Zurmi General Hospital continues to see an influx of children with life-threatening complications linked to malnutrition.
MSF is urging government bodies and humanitarian partners to strengthen support for the emergency response and ensure that all children in Zurmi receive the lifesaving care and protection they urgently need.
