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Nigerian authorities confirmed Tuesday {that a} meningitis outbreak within the northwest was behind the demise of at the least 26 folks over a number of weeks.
The unfold of the illness within the state of Kebbi started late January with over 200 suspected instances recorded, the state commissioner for well being, Musa Ismail, advised reporters in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
Ismail additionally mentioned medical provides have already been dispatched to the affected areas, and isolation facilities set as much as stop the additional unfold of the illness.
Sokoto, one other state within the northwest and about 150 kilometers (90 miles) away from Kebbi, has urged residents to stay vigilant after a number of instances had been suspected.
Sokoto state commissioner of well being, Faruk Abubakar, mentioned residents ought to take precautionary measures and search quick medical consideration on the nearest well being facility if they’re experiencing signs resembling excessive fever, stiff neck and extreme complications.
Meningitis, extra widespread throughout the scorching season in Nigeria, is a major public well being problem in Africa’s most populous nation that impacts the protecting membranes surrounding the mind and spinal twine. Moreover to this communicable illness, Nigeria can also be battling malaria and has the very best burden on the planet.
Nigeria beforehand acquired assist from america Company for Worldwide Improvement to fight these illnesses, however that help has lately been withdrawn.
Between 2022 and 2023, Nigeria, situated in an space often called the African Meningitis Belt, recorded 2,765 suspected instances and 190 deaths, in keeping with the Nigeria Centre for Illness Management and Prevention. In 2024, the World Well being Group mentioned 153 folks died in the same outbreak.
The west African nation is working to implement a roadmap authorized by the World Well being Meeting in November 2020 that goals to eradicate meningitis by 2030.
Nigeria has 36 states.
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Nigerian authorities affirm meningitis outbreak in northwest has killed 26 folks since January (2025, March 11)
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