NCDC – European Affairs Magazine

Meningitis epidemic killed 745 people in the North of Nigeria.

The epidemic of meningitis in the North of Nigeria durign five months made 745 deaths, according to the Nigerian national Center of surveillance of the diseases ( NCDC). 745 deaths were registered on more than 8 000 counted suspected cases, reports the NCDC, in spite of a vast vaccination led by the authorities. The immense majority of the suspected case (93 %) were listed in five States of the North of Nigeria: Zamfara – Where the first wave of meningitis appeared, between 12 and on December 18th, 2016 -, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger. Meetings also took place between the governors of the affected States, the federal authorities and the traditional leaders of the North, to suit campaigns of prevention and raising awareness to be led locally to stop the epidemic. About 420 000 people were already vaccined and Nigeria received 823 000 doses of vaccines from Great Britain to pursue its campaign, according to the statements of Secretary of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire.

Nigeria meningitis outbreak: 282 deaths confirmed in five states

31 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has registrated an increase of meningitis cases in five states with at least 282 deaths. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer, said that have been recorder since february 1,966 suspected cases and amongst them, 109 have been confirmed. Zamgara has the hightest number of confirmed cases, followed by Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi; a new strand of meningitis called “stereotype C” has emerged in place of the previous known type “stereotype A”, which has disappeared. He regretted that there was not yet commercially available vaccine for this new stereotype “C” meningitis. For this reason was necessary to make application to the World Health Organisation : the vaccine for this specific outbreak stereotype is not commercially available. “Thankfully the vaccines have arrived and we have started vaccination campaign in Zamfara. We are in the process of starting in Sokoto and Kebbi states”. Meningitis is a tough disease and it is associated with over-crowding, understanding the living conditions in the country, people must keep their building ventilated, avoid sleeping in overcrowded condition.