The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the wave of Meningitis infection in the country claimed 151 lives while recording 1,826 suspected cases, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 8.3 percent.
According to the Epidemiological Week 12 Report, which covers the period from March 17 to March 23, 2025, a total of 289 samples were collected from suspected cases, and 126 of these have been confirmed as positive, yielding a 44 percent positivity rate.
The Report disclosed that the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC), accounted for 27 percent of cases, followed by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W (NmW) at 13.5 percent.
The disease predominantly affects children in the 5-14 age group, making up the highest proportion of both suspected and confirmed cases. The outbreak shows a significant gender disparity, with 60 percent of the total suspected cases reported in males.
The situation is most severe in 10 states, with Kebbi and Sokoto being the hardest-hit, accounting for 94 percent of suspected cases. Gwandu LGA in Kebbi has reported the highest number of cases, with 313 suspected cases, followed by Tambuwal LGA in Sokoto with 155 cases.
In response to the growing crisis, the NCDC has stepped up surveillance, sample collection, and public awareness campaigns. Efforts to provide vaccinations and other interventions are being prioritized in high-risk states to curb the spread of the disease and prevent further fatalities.
Recall Nigeria received over 1,000,000 pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) from the Gavi-funded global stockpile last week to combat the meningitis outbreak in the Northern part of the country.
