There has been a breakout of measles in Bauchi State.

The Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Sani Malami, said on Thursday that 18 cases of measles had been reported in Dambam Local Government Area of the state.

Mr. Malami disclosed this in Bauchi in an interview.

He said that the cases were reported last week from seven out of the 16 wards of the area.

The commissioner said that a medical team from the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency had been dispatched to the affected areas.

Mr. Malami further disclosed that 14,000 dosages of vaccine had been allocated to the areas while re-vaccination against the disease would be carried out in the areas.

He said that enough vaccines had been stored in Dambam Healthcare facility in case of further outbreak.

The commissioner attributed the outbreak of the disease to the influx of people from neighbouring states, stressing that “two of the children affected by the disease came in from a neighbouring state to Dambam for a ceremony.

“They had the disease and transported it to Dambam Town, and hence, the outbreak.”

He said that measles’ campaign in Bauchi State had been successful and that was why the state, even in the past, recorded low cases.

He said all the 20 local government areas of the state have been put on red alert to ensure that the outbreak does not spread to other council areas of the state.

(NAN)