LAGOS, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 179 children have died of measles while more than 4,000 others were affected in the northern Nigerian state of Jigawa during the last three months, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported Monday.

    It quoted Isameldin Mirgani, an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the state as saying that "around 500,000 children had, however, been immunized to contain the spread of measles."

    "A detailed report on the measles outbreak had been issued to the Jigawa government for further action," it added.

    The WHO office in Lagos is not available for comments.

    Last month, the WHO said it had received reports of 1,118 cases including 76 deaths of measles in the northeastern Nigerian state of Adamawa since February 28.

    Meanwhile, four other states in northern Nigeria, including Gombe, Kaduna, Kano and Kebbi, have also reported outbreaks of the disease.

    Measles, usually occurring in childhood, claims half a million lives each year in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries. About 50 percent of all global measles deaths occurs in the region. Enditem