Meningitis is caused by inflammation of brain and spinal cord membranes, typically caused by an infection. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can also be bacterial or fungal. Vaccines can prevent some forms of meningitis.
No fewer than 190 Nigerians were killed in 2023 in Cerebrospinal Meningitis-related deaths, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed, warning of new outbreak.
Meningitis is caused by inflammation of brain and spinal cord membranes, typically caused by an infection. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can also be bacterial or fungal. Vaccines can prevent some forms of meningitis.
Raising concerns over an outbreak of the disease, which is more prevalent during the dry season especially with dust, winds, and cold nights, NCDC said that named all the 19 states in the North, the FCT, and some southern states, such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun as the highest burden of CSM in Nigeria.
The Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Ifedayo Adetufa, who gave the statistics, revealed 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 in its 2022/2023 statistics.
Adetufa, in a public health advisor issued on Thursday, explained that despite significant progress in vaccination over the last few years, CSM remains a priority disease and an ever-present public health threat in Nigeria.
He said its annual outbreaks in high-burden states pose a challenge to the people, health systems, economies, and communities.
While assured Nigerians that the government is working to prevent, detect, and respond to cases of the disease, said the NCDC, in collaboration with ministries, departments, agencies, and partners through the CSM TWG, had implemented several measures to ensure enhanced coordination, collaboration, and communication for response across the country.
“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,” revealed as some of the preventive measures.
Adetufa 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.
He, however, warned that smoking and overcrowding in households should be avoided, in addition to practicing proper respiratory hygiene when coughing or sneezing.