Worst meningitis outbreak in Nigeria since 2009 kills at least 140 people
A recent outbreak of meningitis in several states of Nigeria has killed at least 140 people, making it the worst outbreak of the disease since 2009 when it killed 156 people, according to officials.
Meningitis causes an acute inflammation of the outer layers of the brain and spinal cord.
The disease has been reported over the last week in six states and has so far infected more than 1,000 people, the Abuja Centre for Disease Control says. It is spreading amidst fears that it could be out of control if refugee camps, prisons, and police cells become affected through crowds.
Vaccination is an effective way of preventing against meningitis.
However, a new strain, which may have been imported from a neighboring country is now prevalent in Nigeria and requires a different type of vaccine, Nigerian Minister of Health Isaac Adewole said.
The seasonal outbreak has been attributed to cold nights, dusty winds and dry weather, which were aggravated by traditional beliefs, poor hygiene, and overpopulation, our reporter says.
Nigeria lies on the meningitis belt, stretching from the Sahel region to the Horn of Africa, where outbreaks occur regularly.