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Tag: meningitis

  • Meningitis spreads to Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, claims 14 lives from 315 suspected cases

    Meningitis spreads to Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, claims 14 lives from 315 suspected cases

    …as Nigeria receives 1 million doses of vaccine Men5CV

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported the spread of the Cerebrospinal Meningitis outbreak to Kebbi, Sokoto, and Yobe States, with a total of 315 suspected cases as of March 23, 2025.

    Of these, 38 cases tested positive for cerebrospinal meningitis, with 23 confirmed as Neisseria meningitis serogroup C, 14 as Neisseria meningitis to serogroup W, and one as Streptococcus pneumoniae.

    According to the Director General (DG), Jide Idris in a situation report on the agency’s website, the outbreak has resulted in 14 deaths, bringing the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) to 4.4% in the reporting week 12.

    The report stated that a total of 60 samples were collected from nine States, including Adamawa, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Plateau, the Federal Capital Territory, and Bauchi while four Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kebbi and Sokoto States have exceeded the epidemic threshold.

    There was a 65% decrease in reported cases in epidemiological week 12 compared to week 11, which had reported 418 cases, it revealed.

    The report also indicated that cumulatively, as of March 23, 2025 from 2023, a total of 4,804 suspected cases and 413 deaths have been reported since the start of the 2023 season with a CFT of 0.5% difference.

    As for the current 2024/2025 season, the report indicated that 1,826 suspected cases and 151 deaths have been reported across 23 States, adding that the most affected age group remains 5 to 14 years, and 60% of the total suspected cases have been male.

    Notably, 94% of all suspected cases have been reported from 10 States of Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Sokoto, Borno, Adamawa, Oyo, and Bauchi, the report showed.

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    According to Idris, the challenges facing the response to the disease outbreak include inadequately trained personnel, lack of CSM commodities, poor reporting, and poor health-seeking behaviour.

    He, however, assured that the agency is taking steps to mitigate the outbreak, including maintaining communication with states, advocating for funding, distributing response commodities, building capacity for sample collection and laboratory diagnosis, and scaling up risk communications.

    Nigeria has, however, received over 1 million doses of the pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat the meningococcus C and W outbreak in northern Nigeria.

    In a joint press statement on Friday by the Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), it was noted that the first shipment of the vaccine doses will enable the launch of an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged one to 29 years, the most severely affected group.

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, in his reaction to the development said, “The arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s response to the current meningitis outbreak.

    “It reflects our commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians, especially our children and young people who are most vulnerable.

    “Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, we have prioritized epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda.

    “We are grateful for the support of Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF in enabling this swift deployment.

    “Together, we are not only containing today’s outbreak but also laying the foundation to eliminate meningitis and strengthen routine immunisation for the future.”

    Men5CV is designed to prevent meningitis caused by five serogroups of the Neisseria meningitis bacteria, specifically Serogroup A, C, W, Y and X.

  • Fed Govt alerts Nigerians to meningitis outbreak

    Fed Govt alerts Nigerians to meningitis outbreak

    The Federal Government has alerted Nigerians to the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

    It said the disease claimed 190 lives across the country last year.

    Meningitis is more prevalent during the dry season which comes with dust, winds, and cold nights.

    The government said the warning became imperative as the weather condition brings with it frequent upper respiratory tract infections that increase the risk of infection, especially with crowding and poor ventilation.

    The 2022/2023 statistics reveled that Nigeria recorded 2,765 suspected and 303 confirmed meningitis cases with 190 deaths across 140 local government areas in 30 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Ifedayo Adetifa said.

    The NCDC boss said the highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the “Meningitis Belt” which includes all the 19 states in the North, the FCT, and some southern states, such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun.

    In a public health advisor issued yesterday, Adetifa assured Nigerians that the government is working to prevent, detect, and respond to cases of the disease.

    The BCDC boss explained that despite significant progress in surveillance, diagnostic capacity, and vaccination over the last few years, CSM remained a priority disease and ever-present public health threat in Nigeria.

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    He said its annual outbreaks in high-burden states pose a challenge to the people, health systems, economies, and communities.

    Adetifa said the NCDC, in collaboration with ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and partners through the CSM TWG, had implemented several measures to ensure enhanced coordination, collaboration, and communication for response across the country.

    Among other preventive measures, he said: “At the beginning of the season, all state governments and public health authorities were alerted to the heightened risk of a CSM outbreak and the need for resource mobilisation for preparedness and response activities.

    “Routine meetings of the national multi-sectoral CSM TWG (were held) to coordinate prevention and preparedness activities.

    “Regular communication (were held) with high-burden states to ascertain status, progress, and challenges.”

    Adetifa said it is important to ensure that everyone received the appropriate vaccination required to protect against meningitis while avoiding close and prolonged contact with a confirmed case of CSM, including relatives.

    The BCDC boss also warned that smoking and overcrowding in households should be avoided, in addition to practicing proper respiratory hygiene when coughing or sneezing.

  • Meningitis currently in 15 states, says NCDC

    Fifteen states are currently affected by meningitis, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.

    Also, the disease affects 2.8 million people globally each year.

    NCDC said the disease remains a major public health challenge affecting many African countries.

    To mark this year’s World Meningitis Day, NCDC urged all stakeholders – policy makers, leaders, communities and individuals – to raise awareness about the disease.

    Globally, World Meningitis Day is observed on April 24 to raise awareness about the dreadful but preventable disease. This year’s theme is: Life After Meningitis.

    Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes, called meninges, which protect the brain and spinal cord from infection and direct physical injury.

    The infection of the meninges by microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, results in meningitis, a serious infection that can lead to death, if left untreated.

    This year, the NCDC said it will increase awareness on the signs, symptoms and the devastating after-effects that it can have the extreme importance of early diagnosis and treatment and the crucial need to support meningitis survivors and their families.

    “We all have a collective responsibility to address this public health challenge. As the agency with the mandate to protect the health of Nigerians, NCDC works closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), other relevant agencies and partners to sensitise Nigerians on the disease and coordinate response nationally in the event of an outbreak,” NCDC’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said.

  • 15 states currently affected by Meningitis -NCDC

    15 states in the country are currently affected by Meningitis this year, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed.

    This is as 2.8 million people are affected globally each year.

    The disease, NCDC said remains a major public health challenge affecting countries in the Africa.

    Hence, as the nation joins the rest of the world to mark the 2019 World Meningitis Day, NCDC urged all stakeholders – policy makers, leaders, communities and individuals – to join in raising awareness on Meningitis in Nigeria.

    Globally, World Meningitis Day is observed on the 24th of April every year to raise awareness about this dreadful but preventable disease. This year’s World Meningitis Day theme is “Life after Meningitis”.

    Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes, known as meninges that protect the brain and spinal cord from infection and direct physical injury. The infection of the meninges by microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses results in the condition known as Meningitis, a very serious infection that can lead to death if left untreated.

     This year, the NCDC seeks to increase awareness on the signs, symptoms and the devastating after-effects that it can have the extreme importance of early diagnosis and treatment, and the crucial need to support Meningitis survivors and their families

    Globally, Meningitis affects about 2.8 million people each year. This disease remains a major public health challenge affecting countries in the African meningitis belt, where Nigeria falls; in 2019, 15 States are currently affected in Nigeria.

    Meningitis cases have been found to occur through the year in the country with an observed increase during the dry season. The disease is highly contagious and can kill within 24 hours, so recognising the symptoms early and acting fast is crucial. Meningitis can affect anyone; however infants, young children, adolescents and older people are at greatest risk, with major risk factors being overcrowding and poor ventilation.

    According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 10%–15% of those surviving meningococcal meningitis will suffer from complications, including mental disorders, deafness, palsies and seizures; or disabilities resulting from damages to the nervous system, including hearing loss, learning and behavioral difficulties; and other complications such as loss of sight, limb, and organ damage. Raising awareness of Meningitis and its after-effects is therefore very vital – “We all have a collective responsibility to address this public health challenge. As the agency with the mandate to protect the health of Nigerians, NCDC works closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), other relevant agencies and partners to sensitise Nigerians on the disease and coordinate response nationally in the event of an outbreak,” Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General, NCDC.

    Meningitis can be prevented by avoiding overcrowded places and ensuring adequate ventilation in the home, covering the nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when sneezing, coughing, or blowing the nose and disposing used tissues promptly into a waste bin. Form the habit of washing hands frequently with soap under running water, especially after coughing or sneezing.

    Early presentation to a health facility and treatment increases chances of survival, so visiting the health facility immediately symptoms is extremely crucial. All health workers are advised to practice standard precautions at all times – wear gloves while handling patients or providing care to an ill relative.

  • Kaduna introduces house-to-house search against outbreak of diseases

    The Kaduna State Government has introduced a house-to-house search mechanism to prevent and protect residents against outbreak of infectious diseases.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Dogo, said in a statement made available to us on Sunday in Kaduna that government was ready to tackle measles, cholera, meningitis and other viral haemorrhagic diseases.

    Dogo noted that the exercise was designed to curb the spread of the diseases across and beyond the state.

    He said the state has not recorded any single case in the 23 local government areas and assured that no chance would be taken to contain any disease outbreak.

    The commissioner said the state has a robust supply chain management system with medicines that can easily be pre-positioned in hospitals to manage isolated cases. ‎‎

    “We have made preparedness for outbreak of infectious diseases such as measles, cholera, meningitis, Lassa fever and other viral haemorrhagic diseases.

    “Our robust supply chain management system have medicines that can easily be pre-positioned in our hospitals to manage isolated cases,” he said.‎

    Dogo also said that the state have maintained polio-free status since November 2012 and is working hard to build sufficient herd immunity through strengthened routine immunisation ‎programme.

    On tuberculosis, the commissioner explained that the ministry had commenced house-to-house search for active tuberculosis patients to curb the spread of the disease by undetected active TB cases within communities in the state.‎‎

    He said that to ensure success, the state government deployed 1,240 newly recruited medical professionals to hospitals across the state.

    “This has improved the human resource situation of our General Hospitals and better quality of services,” the commissioner said.

    NAN

  • Borno confirms three dead from fresh cholera outbreak

    No fewer than three persons died in fresh cholera outbreak in Kukawa Local Government area of Borno, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia, has said.

    Mshelia made the disclosure when the Director General, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebrayesus, visited the WHO’s Emergency and Response Centre on Friday in Maiduguri.

    He said that about 700 cases of cholera were recorded in Baga, Doron Baga and Kukawa in the past weeks.

    He said that the state government in collaboration with WHO and other partner agencies had scaled up activities to combat the outbreak in the affected communities.

    Mshelia said the state government in the past six months conducted vaccination to control the disease.

    The commissioner added that the state government, with the support from WHO and other organizations, had also executed various programmes to control, hepatitis E, malaria, polio, measles, meningitis and other diseases.

    Mshelia called for closer collaboration with WHO to enhance healthcare delivery in the state.

    Read Also: Borno free of cholera outbreak – Commissioner

    Ghebrayesus assured of WHO’s commitment to contain the spread of cholera, polio and other diseases in the state.

    He said: “The current cholera outbreak was recorded in areas where vaccination was not conducted. The outbreak would be analysed to avert future ocurrence.”

    He commanded the state government for demonstrating the political will to control the outbreak and transform healthcare service delivery in the state.

    It would be recalled that 61 persons died of cholera between June and December, 2017.

  • Meningitis threat in Borno’s IDP camps

    SIR: With a total land mass of 70,898 square kilometres, Borno is second to Niger State out of the 36 states in terms of size. The violence unleashed by Boko Haram on the communities in the state, among other states in the northeast, has left millions homeless in the last seven years, thereby forcing government to establish resettlement camps to cater for the displaced.

    Most of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri are overflowing with people but with poor health facilities. The IDPs are characterised by dirty environment, insufficient food supply, shortage of beds and other necessities of life. Many live in tents and huts that have no adequate ventilation as the hot season sets in hence the prevalence of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, CSM.

    Meningitis is a deadly infection that affects the delicate membranes known as meninges which covers the brain and spinal cord. It is viral or bacterial infection and is contagious among people in close contact. Meningitis is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is also caused by infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, among others. Symptoms of the disease include fever, difficulties in feeding, vomiting and diarrhoea, irritability, difficulties in breathing to mention a few.

    A lasting solution to the health threat faced in the IDPS is for the government to act swiftly to end the insurgency and also bring back peace to areas ravaged by communal clashes so that the displaced people can return to their homes and begin to live a better life one again.

    NEMA and its counterpart agencies in the state where IDP camps exist should strive to improve the sanitary conditions at the refugee centres. Camp premises should be fumigated with herbicides to kill the overgrown grasses. Effort should equally be made to provide treated mosquito nets to the IDPs, equip camp clinics with proper drugs for the treatment of transferable diseases and ensure that IDPs have access to clean water.

    Because NEMA and SEMA were established to provide only immediate help to victims of crises, the interference by these agencies in the northeast which is supposed to be provisional has become a load on their resources because of the long-standing time it is taking the government to bring the causative factors of the crises to an end.

    Those living in the IDPs are advised to avoid crowded places and ensure cross ventilation in their camps to prevent the spread of diseases. They should also avoid sleeping in overcrowded conditions and if lots of people must sleep together in the same room, the windows and doors should always be opened to guarantee ventilation.

     

    • Wada Anas Ibrahim, University of Maiduguri.
  • ‘Nigeria loses 800,000 children due to lack of immunisation’

    ‘Nigeria loses 800,000 children due to lack of immunisation’

    The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation ( GAVI ) on Thursday said no fewer than 800,000 unvaccinated children had died in Nigeria in the last five years.

    Dr Seth Berkley, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GAVI, made this known during a stakeholders meeting in Suleja, Niger.

    GAVI is a public-private global health partnership committed to increasing access to immunisation through provision of vaccines across the globe.

    Berkley who said a recent survey had revealed that Nigeria had only 30 per cent coverage of immunization added that the figure differed from what some health workers had always presented.

    The CEO said that children unnecessarily died because they were not vaccinated, pointing out that his organisation was working hard to strengthen routine immunisation in the country.

    He said that lack of children’s access to routine vaccination caused outbreak of diseases such as monkey-pox, Lassa fever, measles, meningitis and yellow fever.

    According to him, government and other stakeholders must work hand-in-hand to accelerate and strengthen routine immunisation.

    Berkley noted that traditional ruler could help in ensuring children access to vaccination because they were close to the people.

    The chief executive officer of GAVI decried non usage of vaccine being provided by his organisation for immunization in some quarters.

    “If we supply vaccines and people do not go to the health centres to take them, the essence of providing such will be defeated.” he said.

    Dr Faisal Shuaibthe, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said it was imperative for the country to do the right thing and ensure all her children were immunised.

    Shuaib said that how well leaders provided health care to their people determined the future of the children in such communities.

    He tasked local governments and traditional rulers to supervise and monitor the activities of primary health care facilities in their areas.

    The executive director disclosed that his agency had designed a template to monitor and evaluate immunisation quarterly to ensure improvement on current situation.

    He said the National Emergency Routine Immunisation Centre had been established to strengthen routine vaccination in the country.

    Reacting, the Emir of Suleja, Muhammad-Awwal Ibrahim, pledged commitment of traditional rulers in the state to tackle the challenges facing vaccination of children.

    Ibrahim said that immunisation must be taken seriously to prevent children from dying unnecessarily.

    “We, the traditional rulers have the passion to do what is expected of us to tackle our health challenges” he said.

    NAN

  • Four die of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis in Niger

    Four die of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis in Niger

    Four persons died of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) ‘Serotype C’ in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, it was learnt yesterday.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Mustapha Jibril, who addressed reporters, said of 31 cases reported, nine were confirmed.

    According to him, Magama had 27 cases; Katcha council has four. Samples collected tested positive for Serotype C.

    Jibril said the outbreak had been contained in the two councils and the ministry activated all outbreak response mechanisms.

    He said: “The State Emergency Operation Centre has been fully activated to ensure real time tracking and response to outbreaks across the 25 councils. Surveillance has also been intensified, including active case search across all wards.”

    Jibril added that the General Hospital, Auna, has been designated as a referral centre.

    He said the centre had been stocked with medical supplies and consumables, including spinal needles for lumbar puncture, antibiotics, intravenous infusions, canulae and personal protective equipment.

    Health education and community sensitisation and mobilisation have begun, he added.

  • Meningitis kills four in Niger

    Meningitis kills four in Niger

    The Niger State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril, said on Wednesday that four people have died of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis (CSM) “Serotype C” in the state.

    He said 31 cases were reported and nine confirmed.

    Briefing journalists in his office in Minna, the commissioner said the four deaths were recorded in Magama local government area of the state.

    He said Magama local government area had 27 cases while Katcha LGA had four.

    He added that the samples collected tested positive for Serotype C.