Meningitis Killed 190 In 2 Years – NCDC

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the country recorded 2,765 suspected and 303 confirmed cases of meningitis with 190 deaths across 140 local government areas (LGAs) in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2022/2023.

NCDC disclosed this yesterday in its public health advisory while assuring of the centre’s commitment to preventing, detecting and responding to cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the country.

The director-general of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, said CSM occurs when there is an acute inflammation of the covering of the brain and the spinal cord.

He said CSM is an epidemic-prone disease with cases reported all year round in the country.

However, the DG said weather conditions like the dry season that comes with dust, winds, cold nights, and frequent upper respiratory tract infections increase the risk of infection, especially with crowding and poor ventilation.

“The highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the “Meningitis Belt” which includes all 19 states in the Northern region, the FCT, and some southern states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun.

“In 2022/2023, Nigeria recorded 2765 suspected and 303 confirmed cases with 190 deaths across 140 LGAs in 30 States including the FCT,” he said.

He further explained that the inflammation of the meninges, a thin layer of the connective tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord, can be caused by infection with organisms like  bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi.

He said transmission usually occurs through direct person-to-person contact, including droplets from the nose and throat of infected persons.

The DG has, therefore, advised the public to ensure that they have received the appropriate vaccination required to protect against meningitis.