LAGOS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Over 600 suspected cases of measles were recorded in northern Nigeria's Kebbi, an official said Friday.
This was largely due to refusal of residents to go for routine immunization, Mannir Jega, Scribe of the State Primary Health Care and Development Agency told reporters in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
He said the state had recorded poor coverage due to low turnout for routine immunizations in previous campaigns in 2016.
"We have 656 Measles cases in the 21 areas in the state, out of which 77 cases had been confirmed in 12 areas and the victims were treated and discharged," he said.
On his part, the Commissioner for Health Usman Kambaza told reporters that 1,131 vaccination teams would be deployed to undertake immunization to counter the upsurge of measles cases across the state.
He added that the state is planning measles campaign with the support of the National Primary Health Care and Development Agency and other partners to counter this.
The campaign is expected to start on Sept. 26, and about 898,174 children are expected to be vaccinated.
The vaccination is for all children from 9 months to 5 years irrespective of vaccination status, he said. Enditem
