In Abuja, Nigerian health officials have confirmed a meningitis outbreak in the northwest region, claiming at least 26 lives over several weeks. The outbreak in Kebbi state started in late January, with over 200 suspected cases reported, according to the state health commissioner, Musa Ismail, during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, the state’s capital.
Authorities are responding by dispatching medical supplies to the impacted areas and establishing isolation centers to curb the disease’s spread. Meanwhile, Sokoto, another northwest state situated roughly 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Kebbi, has alerted its residents to remain vigilant after identifying several suspected cases.
Sokoto’s commissioner of health, Faruk Abubakar, has advised the public to implement preventive measures and seek immediate medical care at the closest health facilities if they exhibit symptoms such as high fever, stiff neck, and severe headaches.
Meningitis is typically more prevalent during Nigeria’s hot season. It poses a substantial public health challenge in the nation, affecting the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Simultaneously, Nigeria grapples with malaria, bearing the highest burden worldwide.
Although support has previously been received from the United States Agency for International Development to combat such diseases, this aid has recently been withdrawn. In the period between 2022 and 2023, Nigeria—positioned within the African Meningitis Belt—reported 2,765 suspected cases and 190 deaths, as stated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. In a comparable outbreak in 2024, the World Health Organization reported 153 fatalities.
As part of ongoing efforts, Nigeria is striving to implement a roadmap endorsed by the World Health Assembly in November 2020, aiming to eradicate meningitis by the year 2030. The country, known for its populous nature, comprises 36 states.
