From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that deaths from Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) has hit 151.
It explained that the figure was cumulatively from the cases reported from 2024/2025 season, which is from epidemiological week 40 in 2024, to week 12 in 2025.
NCDC, in its epidemiological week 12, March 17 to March 23, 2025 report released in Abuja, yesterday, indicated that as of last month, 1,826 suspected cases were reported from 23 states out of which 151 deaths were recorded.
It noted that 60 percent of the total suspected cases were male while 94 percent of all the suspected cases were reported from 10 states, including Kebbi (881), Katsina (158), Jigawa (147), Yobe (109), Gombe (47), Sokoto (303), Borno (36), Adamawa (27), Oyo (23) and Bauchi (66).
But, in the epidemiological week 12, March 17 to March 23, the NCDC noted that 315 suspected cases were reported from three states, namely, Kebbi, Sokoto and Yobe, with 14 deaths recorded, indicating a case fatality rate of 4.4 percent.
However, in the reporting week 12, 60 samples were collected from nine states, namely, Adamawa, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Plateau, FCT and Bauchi. Four LGAs including Gwandu, Aliero, Jega and Tambuwal in Kebbi and Sokoto states, respectively, have crossed epidemic threshold.
The NCDC noted that there was a 65 percent decrease in the number of reported cases in epi-week 12 (315) compared to cases reported in epi-week 11 (418) cases.
Regarding case definitions, the NCDC stated that suspected cases includes any person with a sudden onset of fever (>38.5C rectal or 38.0C axillary) and meningeal signs, such as neck stiffness, altered consciousness or other meningeal signs like Kernings, Bruzinski, nuchal rigidity and raised intracranial pressure, including bulging fontanelle in toddlers.
On infants, the NCDC noted that any toddler with sudden onset of fever (>38.5 C rectal or 38.0 C axillary) and any of the following signs – neck stiffness or flaccid neck, bulging fontanelle, convulsion or other meningeal signs, is a suspected case.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has received one million doses of meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine from the Gavi-funded global stockpile, to combat the meningitis outbreak in northern Nigeria.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the arrival of the Men5CV vaccines was a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s response to the meningitis outbreak.
He said: “It reflects our commitment to protect the health and well-being of all Nigerians, especially children and young people, who are most vulnerable. Through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), we have prioritised epidemic preparedness and rapid response as part of our broader health security agenda.
“We are grateful for the support of Gavi, the WHO and UNICEF in enabling this swift deployment. Together, we are not only containing today’s outbreak but also laying a solid foundation to eliminate meningitis and strengthen routine immunisation for the future.”