Meningitis: Emergency operations centres activated in 6 states as death toll hit 151

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said multi-sectoral state-level Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) have been activated in six states in response to the cerebrospinal meningitis in the country.

This is as it also revealed that the death toll from the meningitis outbreak in the country has hit 151.

A situation report issued by the agency on Sunday said the EOCs were activated in Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.

The situation report showed that as at 23rd March 2025, a total of 1, 826 suspected cases with 151 deaths (CFR 8.3%) were reported from 23 states.

The report said, “94% of all suspected cases are being reported from 10 states – Kebbi (881), Katsina (158), Jigawa (147), Yobe (109), Gombe (47), Sokoto (303), Borno (36), Adamawa (27), Oyo (23) and Bauchi (66).”

It also said 17 LGAs across nine states reported more than ten suspected cases in the current CSM season.

They are Gwandu (313), Tambuwal (155), Aleiro (143), Katsina (69), Kankia (54), Sule-Tankarkar (29), Jega (61), Fune (28), Maiduguri (29), Jahun (15), Birnin kudu (13), Nafada (13), Nguru (53), Bauch (25), Gamawa (20), Taura (14), Sule-Tankarkar (30), Birnin kudu (13), Nafada (13) and Yola South (13).

The situation report also revealed that between 17th March and 23 March, 315 suspected cases were reported from three states; Kebbi, Sokoto and Yobe.

It said 14 deaths were recorded during the week with 60 samples collected from nine states (Adamawa, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Plateau, FCT and Bauchi).

It also noted that there was a 65% decrease in the number of reported cases in the week (315) compared to cases reported in the previous week (418) cases.

In the reporting week, National multi-sectoral Cerebrospinal Meningitis EOC continues to monitor surveillance activities across states.