Key points

• Measles killed 153 people in Nigeria between January and November 2025.

• Confirmed cases topped 19,000, with young children most affected.

• More than three-quarters of confirmed patients had never received a measles vaccine.

Nigeria recorded 153 deaths from measles between January and November 2025, as confirmed cases of the viral disease crossed 19,000 nationwide, according to health authorities.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said 19,213 cases were confirmed from 26,866 suspected infections reported across 507 local government areas in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The figures were published in the agency’s latest measles situation report released in Abuja on Tuesday.

How measles spreads

Measles is an acute viral illness that causes fever, red rash, cough, and inflamed eyes. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, close personal contact, or exposure to respiratory droplets.

Health officials say the virus can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours, increasing the risk of infection in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces.

People infected with measles are most contagious from four days before the rash appears to four days after it develops.

States with the highest case numbers

In November, Delta, Kwara, Bayelsa, Jigawa, and Akwa Ibom states accounted for just over half of the 71 suspected cases recorded that month.

Only one case was laboratory confirmed, while most remained under investigation. No deaths were recorded among confirmed cases during the month.

Between January and November, Borno recorded the highest number of suspected cases at 7,968, followed by Zamfara with 4,779 and Yobe with 2,076.

Bauchi and Kebbi also reported high case numbers. Together, the five states accounted for more than 66 percent of all suspected cases nationwide.

Children most affected

Nearly half of all confirmed cases involved children aged nine to 59 months, the NCDC said.

The report also highlighted low vaccination coverage as a major driver of the outbreak. About 14,801 confirmed cases, representing more than 77 percent, involved children who had never received a single dose of the measles vaccine.

Health officials described the high number of unvaccinated children as a persistent challenge in controlling outbreaks.

Outbreak status across LGAs

Measles outbreaks were recorded in 188 local government areas across 27 states during the 11-month period.

By the end of November, Eti Osa Local Government Area in Lagos State was the only council with an ongoing outbreak. Outbreaks in 187 other local government areas had been contained, the agency said.

Nationwide vaccination campaign

On October 6, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu launched the measles-rubella vaccine introduction and integrated immunisation campaign.

The campaign targets about 106 million children aged nine months to under 15 years and is being rolled out in two phases.

Health officials say the programme also includes polio immunisation and the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine for adolescent girls.