6 children die of measles, whooping cough

March 13, 2016 8:13 PM

He said that the report of the outbreak was received by the council on March 1, adding that health officials were making efforts to curtail the spread of the diseases.

A child being immunised against measles - Photo for illustrative purpose

No fewer than six children under the ages of five died in an outbreak of measles and whopping cough in Sule-tankarkar Local Government Area of Jigawa.

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Malam Mohammed Maisamari, Head of Department for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the local council, confirmed the outbreak of the diseases in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Sule-Tankarkar.

He said that Maizare community was worse hit in the local government, adding that six deaths were recorded in the community among the six villages affected by the diseases.

Maisamari said that the council had mobilised a team of health workers to the affected communities to treat all the children who had contracted either of the diseases.

He said that 249 children who were infected by the diseases had been treated.

He said that the council would intensify health education campaign to enlighten the rural dwellers on the need to embrace immunisation.