NIGERIA, THE FIRST COUNTRY TO PLAY THE BALL

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made Nigeria the first country in the world to introduce a new vaccine (Men5CV vaccine), which it recommends to protect the population against the five strains of bacteria that cause meningitis.

Considered a breakthrough, this new vaccine provides powerful protection against five major strains of meningococcus (A, C, W, Y and X) in one injection. According to WHO, which provided the information, in Nigeria, between October 1, 2023 and March 11, 1,742 cases of suspected meningitis were reported in seven of 36 states as a result of the Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) serogroup C outbreak, including 101 confirmed cases and 153 deaths. , 2024. Thus, to stop the deadly outbreak, a vaccination campaign was carried out from March 25 to 28, 2024, with the initial goal of covering more than a million people aged 1 to 29 years.

According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “Meningitis is an ancient and deadly enemy, but this new vaccine has the potential to change the trajectory of the disease, preventing future outbreaks and saving many lives. The introduction of the vaccine in Nigeria brings us one step closer to our goal of eliminating meningitis by 2030.

As a reminder, meningitis is a serious infection that causes inflammation of the tissues surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. There are many causes of meningitis, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens. Symptoms often include headache, fever and neck stiffness. Bacterial meningitis is the most serious and can also lead to sepsis (blood poisoning), severe disability, or death within 24 hours in people who contract it.