LAGOS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A measles disease outbreak has been reported in 10 local governments areas of northern Nigeria's Taraba State, health authorities said Wednesday.
Innocent Vakkai, the State Commissioner of Health, who disclosed this to reporters in Jalingo, the state capital, said there have been 140 cases of measles so far the state.
Majority of those affected were children below five years, who had not been vaccinated, he added, noting that the disease, a leading killer in developing countries like Nigeria, was showing a steady rise in Taraba.
The official regretted that Nigeria had remained the leading country in measles, with many of the cases recorded in northern states including Taraba.
To check the trend, he said the state government had embarked on a massive measles campaign with more personnel trained and deployed to ensure wide and effective coverage.
Vakkai advised parents to make their children available for the exercise so as to rid the state of the disease. Enditem
