Measles outbreak kills 'hundreds' in Nigeria

At least two hundred children have been killed in the past few weeks by an outbreak of measles in Nigeria, according to a leading health agency.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also reported that hundreds more children in the north of the African nation had been infected by the disease.

Local health workers told the charity that the outbreak had been caused by parents in the area failing to ensure their children received a measles vaccination.

"The main reason for its resurgence is low level of immunisation," said Kabir Maso-Kano, paediatric consultant at a hospital in the north-western city of Kano. "And parents are to blame for that because they do not care to immunise their children anymore."

In a statement the charity added: "Due to poor hygiene and sanitation conditions as well as the non acceptance of routine immunisation, the situation has exacerbated."

Last month, figures published by the United Nations revealed that measles deaths in Africa fell by 91 per cent between 2000 and 2006.

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