NCDC holds emergency meeting over Meningitis outbreak in Jigawa State

On Feb 13, 2023

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed that the agency had an emergency meeting in Jigawa state over the meningitis outbreak in the state. Dr. Adetifa said the Emergency Operation Centre meeting reviewed the response, identified challenges, and proffered solutions to the outbreak. The NCDC boss disclosed this via his Twitter handle on Saturday.

We had a #meningitis EOC meeting reviewed the response, identified challenges and came up with solutions. Happy to see @OfficialJGSG’s commitment to the response. Kudos to @NphcdaNG @WHONigeria Jigawa, @MSF_Nigeria and others for supporting this #meningitis outbreak response. pic.twitter.com/bdKNZevz8y

— Ifedayo Adetifa (@IfedayoTiffy) February 10, 2023

The NCDC DG also said that he met with the Jigawa State Government, the Rapid Response Team, and other partners on curbing the spread of the disease in the country.

#TodayatNCDC, I travelled to Jigawa check on and offer support to @OfficialJGSG SMOH led by PSH & Ag HCH, Dr Salisu Muazu, SE & team, deployed @NCDCgov #RRT including @NphcdaNG led by @AmazaRahab, all working with partners to respond to the ongoing #Meningitis type C outbreak. pic.twitter.com/IePdUDRaTV

— Ifedayo Adetifa (@IfedayoTiffy) February 10, 2023

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, a thin layer of the connective tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord. If due to an infection, this inflammation can be caused by a variety of organisms – bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. Injuries and certain drugs can also cause such inflammation. With common signs and symptoms like fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, neck stiffness, and altered conscious levels, it can be transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from infected people.

According to Adetifa, this outbreak of the infection in the country follows the ongoing meningitis outbreak in Niger Republic and confirms the risk of international spread. The outbreak was in Zinder region, Niger Republic which shares an international border with Jigawa State in Nigeria where the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C outbreak is confirmed.

This outbreak in #Jigawa is a reminder that cross border surveillance work & #EPR plans are never quite done. There is also an outbreak in the bordering Zinder State, Niger Republic. Pathogens don’t recognize borders and go wherever people go. #Vaccination is key for prevention. pic.twitter.com/vWi15KSORi

— Ifedayo Adetifa (@IfedayoTiffy) February 10, 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the simultaneous occurrence of other epidemics, insecurity, and population displacement, all in the context of a protracted humanitarian crisis, are likely to contribute to the spread of the outbreak in other countries of the West African sub-region. WHO also assessed the risk posed by the current meningitis outbreak in Niger as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level. “The rollout of multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines is a public health priority to eliminate bacterial meningitis epidemics in the African meningitis belt. Introduction into routine immunization programmes and maintaining high coverage will be critical to avoid the resurgence of epidemics,” WHO noted.

From November 1, 2022, to January 27, 2023, 559 cases of meningitis (of which 111 are laboratory confirmed), including 18 deaths have been reported from the Zinder Region. Meningitis as a public health concern has a high case fatality rate and can result in long-term complications. Vaccination is the most effective and preventive measure to reduce the burden and impact of the disease.

Healthwise/Wumi