ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) 鈥� Nigerian health authorities are struggling to contain a rapidly spreading that has so far killed 151 people across the west African nation, mostly in remote parts of the northern region with children affected the most.
While cases first recorded in October have spread to 23 of Nigeria鈥檚 36 states, nearly half of the deaths, 74, were reported this year, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control said this week, with local partners describing the recent rise in fatalities as 鈥渁larming.鈥�
Most deaths from the disease have been mainly due to infected people not going to health facilities or arriving there late with severe complications, NCDC spokesperson Sani Datti told The Associated Press, a common problem in past outbreaks in the country.
The current outbreak has hit Africa鈥檚 most populous country as its health sector reels from U.S. aid cuts ordered by the Trump administration in February that have affected multiple countries. Nigeria relied heavily on such aid over the years to help fight and support its underfunded healthcare systems.
Seasonal meningitis outbreaks are common during the dry season, especially in northern Nigeria. Almost all the worst-hit states are in the north, where health providers have warned the outbreak is rapidly spreading in hard-to-reach areas.
Meningitis, more common during the hot season in Nigeria, affects the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It鈥檚 a major public health challenge for a country already grappling with 鈥渢he world鈥檚 highest burden of malaria,鈥� according to the World Health Organization.
Last week, Nigeria received the first batch of more than from the global vaccine alliance Gavi, described by local officials as a crucial milestone in disease response.
The Nigeria CDC also said it is working with state authorities to scale up disease surveillance with a focus on tracking new cases, laboratory testing, and public sensitization campaigns to curb the outbreak.
Campaigns are also being rolled out, urging residents to take precautionary measures and seek immediate medical attention if they are experiencing symptoms such as high fever, stiff neck and severe headaches.
However, access to hospitals remains a huge problem, local partners say.
鈥淲e have seen hundreds of admissions and scores of deaths in just a few weeks. The high fatality rate is due to access (to) care, there are challenges with that and low vaccination coverage,鈥� said Simba Tirima, Nigeria鈥檚 country representative for French medical charity Doctors Without Borders, or MSF.
Tirima told the AP that the most vulnerable are residents in remote areas who often arrive late to MSF facilities.
鈥淲e know that meningitis progresses rapidly, and patients' (conditions) can deteriorate in 24 hours,鈥� he said, calling for mass vaccination campaigns.
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Dyepkazah Shibayan, The Associated Press
