Nigeria is struggling with a rapidly spreading meningitis outbreak that has so far killed 151 people – children affected the most – with efforts to combat the disease hampered by the recent US aid cuts.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said cases were first identified in October and have now spread to 23 of the country’s 36 states. Nearly half of the fatalities (74) have occurred this year alone, reports The Independent.
The NCDC said a critical factor contributing to the high death toll was delayed access to healthcare. Spokesperson Sani Datti said many infected people either do not seek medical attention or arrive at health facilities too late, already suffering from severe complications.
The outbreak comes as Nigeria’s underfunded healthcare system grapples with the impact of the aid cuts, having relied heavily on such support over the years to help fight similar outbreaks.
Meningitis outbreaks are a seasonal occurrence here, particularly during the dry season in the northern regions. However, the scale and severity of the current outbreak, coupled with the existing challenges facing the healthcare system, demand immediate and comprehensive action to control the spread and prevent further loss of life.
Health providers have warned that the outbreak is rapidly spreading in hard-to-reach areas.
Last week saw the arrival in the country of the first batch of more than 1m vaccine doses from Gavi, described by local officials as a crucial milestone in disease response.
The NCDC added that it was working with authorities to scale up disease surveillance with a focus on tracking new cases, laboratory testing, and public sensitisation campaigns to curb the outbreak.
However, access to hospitals remains a huge problem, local partners say.
Simba Tirima, Nigeria’s country representative for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), said: “We have seen hundreds of admissions and scores of deaths in just a few weeks.”
The most vulnerable are residents in remote areas who often arrive late to MSF facilities.
“We know that meningitis progresses rapidly, and patients’ conditions can deteriorate in 24 hours,” he added, calling for mass vaccination campaigns.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Nigeria first to roll out new meningitis jab
Nigeria launches mass meningitis vaccination campaign after 336 deaths
Hope for cheaper, effective meningitis jab after African trial success