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Nigeria has received over 1.2 million doses of meningitis vaccine to help combat an outbreak that has claimed more than 70 lives and affected over 800 people across 23 states.
UNICEF and the vaccine supplier confirmed the delivery on Friday.
The outbreak is part of a larger health crisis in Nigeria, one of the 26 African countries in the meningitis-endemic zone known as the “African Meningitis Belt.”
This region stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and Nigeria, with a population of 220 million, is heavily affected.
Meningitis causes inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord. The condition can be triggered by various pathogens, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic agents.
Common symptoms include headache, fever, and a stiff neck. Of these, bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous and can lead to blood poisoning, which may be fatal or cause permanent disability if not treated promptly.
Nigeria’s Health Minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, described the arrival of the Men5CV vaccine as a key step in the country’s efforts to control the outbreak.
The Men5CV vaccine protects against five major strains of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, Y, and X) with just one shot, offering comprehensive protection.
