Nigeria struggles to rein in a widespread meningitis outbreak that has
killed at least 150
[April 10, 2025]
By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian health authorities are struggling to
contain a rapidly spreading meningitis outbreak 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’s 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 “alarming.”
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’s 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 similar
outbreaks 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’s a major
public health challenge for a country already grappling with “the
world’s highest burden of malaria,” according to the World Health
Organization.
Last week, Nigeria received the first batch of more than 1 million
vaccine doses from the global vaccine alliance Gavi, described by local
officials as a crucial milestone in disease response.
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A patient suffering from meningitis receives treatment at the
University teaching hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Tuesday, April
8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hamza Suleiman)
 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.
“We 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,” said Simba
Tirima, Nigeria’s 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.
“We know that meningitis progresses rapidly, and patients'
(conditions) can deteriorate in 24 hours,” he said, calling for mass
vaccination campaigns.
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