Meningitis outbreak in Nigeria kills more than 300

A new strain of meningitis has emerged, and there are not enough vaccines against it, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control warned.

Lagos, Nigeria A meningitis outbreak has killed more than 300 people in Nigeria, the country's Center for Disease Control said.

The agency reported a wide outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis across 15 states.

A new strain of the disease called "stereotype C" has emerged, and last week the Center for Disease Control warned that there were not enough vaccines against it.

"There is a vaccine available," Chief Executive Chikwe Ihekweazu said, "but it is not commercially available for the stereotype involved in this specific outbreak, and we have to make application to the World Health Organization for the vaccines."

However, in a press release on April 1st, Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, said that up to 1.3 million vaccines have now been acquired.

"We have secured 500,000 doses of the meningococcal vaccines from WHO which will be used in Zamfara and Katsina states," Prof. Adewole said. "While additional 800,000 units from the British government."

Nearly 2,000 suspected cases have been recorded and 109 have been treated since the outbreak began in February.

An emergency response team has been sent to the five states in the northwest of the country.

As one of the 26 countries on the African "meningitis belt," Nigeria records some of the highest incidences of the disease on the continent.

The outbreaks peak in the dry season in certain states due to the low humidity and dusty conditions and usually end as the rainy season approaches, Ihekweazu added.

"Meningitis is a tough disease, especially during this period, and it is associated with overcrowding, understanding the living conditions in the country, people must keep their building ventilated," he said.

According to the WHO, even when the disease is diagnosed early and adequate treatment begins, 5% to 10% of patients die, typically within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Some common symptoms are stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting.

Local and international organizations are working together to manage the epidemic. "We believe that our concerted efforts will bring this outbreak under control, as we also work towards preventing outbreaks of this scale in the future," the Center for Disease Control stated.