The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that measles has claimed 153 lives across the country between January and November 2025.
The agency disclosed this in its latest measles situation report released in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the NCDC, Nigeria recorded 26,866 suspected measles cases within the period, out of which 19,213 cases were confirmed across 507 local government areas in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, cough, red eyes and skin rashes. It spreads easily through coughing, sneezing and close contact, and the virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
In the report, the NCDC stated, “A total of 153 deaths (CFR = 0.8 per cent) were recorded among confirmed cases.”
It added that children between the ages of nine and 59 months were the most affected, accounting for 9,399 cases, which represents 48.92 per cent of all confirmed infections.
The agency also raised concern over low vaccination coverage, noting that most infected children had not received the measles vaccine.
“Up to 14,801, representing 77.04 per cent of the 19,213 confirmed cases, did not receive any dose of the measles vaccine,” the report said.
Between January and November 2025, five states accounted for most of the suspected cases. Borno recorded 7,968 cases, Zamfara 4,779, Yobe 2,076, Bauchi 1,574, and Kebbi 1,357. Together, these states made up over 66 per cent of all suspected cases nationwide.
For November alone, the NCDC said Delta, Kwara, Bayelsa, Jigawa and Akwa Ibom states recorded more than half of the 71 suspected cases reported that month.
“In November 2025, Delta (13), Kwara (six), Bayelsa (six), Jigawa (six), and Akwa Ibom (five) accounted for 50.7 per cent of the suspected cases,” the report stated.
Out of the November cases, only one was confirmed, while most were still under investigation. The agency said no deaths were recorded from confirmed cases in November.
The report further revealed that 188 local government areas in 27 states experienced measles outbreaks during the 11-month period. However, by the end of November, only one local government area, Eti-Osa in Lagos State, still had an active outbreak.
“No LGA reported a new outbreak in November. Meanwhile, 187 LGAs across 27 states had ended their outbreaks,” the NCDC said.
In response to the rising cases, the Federal Government recently launched a major vaccination drive. On October 6, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, flagged off the Measles-Rubella vaccine introduction and integrated immunisation campaign.
Speaking at the launch, Tinubu said the exercise is expected to reach about 106 million children aged nine months to under 15 years across the country.
She described the programme as “the largest health initiative in Africa’s history,” aimed at protecting children against measles, rubella and other vaccine-preventable diseases, while also supporting polio vaccination and the rollout of the HPV vaccine for adolescent girls.
