At least 60 children have died from meningitis in Gwandu, Jega and Aliero local government areas of Kebbi State, as the deadly disease spreads rapidly across Northwest Nigeria, particularly in Kebbi and Sokoto states, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has warned.
The humanitarian medical organisation said urgent action is needed to curb the meningitis outbreak, which has already infected over 500 people in Gwandu, Jega and Aliero.
“The situation is alarming. Meningitis kills quickly if someone does not come to the hospital early enough,” said Dr. Bukar Galtimari, an MSF doctor stationed in Kebbi. “You see a mother come in with two or three kids affected, and due to the nature of the disease and how quickly it spreads, the threat to their lives is very real.”
Dr Galtimari said medical teams have been deployed to treat patients, supply hospitals with essential drugs, and train healthcare workers.
He added that in Sokoto, which borders Kebbi, the organisation is intensifying case detection and management while preparing for a mass vaccination campaign with state health officials.
Meningitis, caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria present in Nigeria, can be fatal if untreated, with an estimated 80% mortality rate in severe cases. Symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, severe headaches, vomiting, and seizures. MSF has urged authorities to accelerate vaccination efforts, warning that delays could lead to more preventable deaths. With more suspected cases emerging across Northern Nigeria, MSF is expanding its emergency response.
He said without swift intervention, the outbreak threatens to spiral further, endangering thousands in one of the most meningitis-prone regions in Africa.
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