The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has said that meningitis has killed 151 people and infected 1,826 others across 23 states since October 2024.
This was revealed in the latest Cerebrospinal Meningitis Situation Report released by the NCDC, covering data up to March 23, 2025,Week 12.
According to the report, the current outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis, CSM, began in October 2024 and has continued to spread, especially in the northern part of the country.
During the most recent reporting week, March 17–23, 315 suspected cases were recorded in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Yobe states. Out of this number, 38 cases were confirmed in the laboratory, while 14 deaths were reported.
NCDC said that although there was a 65% drop in the number of cases compared to the previous week, meningitis is still spreading in some parts of the country.
“Kebbi State recorded the highest number of cases with 881, followed by Sokoto with 303, Katsina with 158, and Jigawa with 147 suspected cases,” the report stated.
The agency added that most of the confirmed cases were caused by Neisseria meningitidis type C, NmC, which made up 27% of the cases, while type W, NmW, accounted for 13.5%. Other bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae were also found in some cases.
So far, 289 samples have been tested in laboratories, and 126 were confirmed positive for the disease, showing a 44% positivity rate.
Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It spreads through sneezing, coughing, close contact, or sharing items like plates or cups with infected persons. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, and confusion. If not treated quickly, it can lead to death or long-term disability.
The NCDC said that most of the cases are children aged between five and 14 years, and 60% of all the reported patients are male.
It added that four local government areas Gwandu, Aliero, Jega, in Kebbi, and Tambuwal in Sokoto, have passed the epidemic threshold, meaning the disease is spreading fast in those places.
The report noted that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCDC, and partners are responding to the outbreak. The response includes setting up treatment centres, raising public awareness, and working with state governments to improve disease surveillance and case reporting.
The NCDC also advised Nigerians to avoid overcrowded areas, maintain good personal hygiene, and take sick people to the hospital early. It urged people in high-risk areas to report any signs of meningitis to the nearest health facility or call the NCDC toll-free line on 6232.
Meningitis outbreaks are common during the dry season in Nigeria, especially in the “meningitis belt,” which includes northern states like Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, and parts of Yobe and Borno.
Health experts have called on the government to ensure routine vaccination in the affected areas and provide enough medicine and staff to manage the cases effectively.
