The Federal government has said that an outbreak of Meningitis C is looming in the country because the disease has claimed several lives and is threatening to do more in the absence of vaccines.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Abdulsalam Nasidi made this announcement at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, during the emergency National Council on Health on Lassa fever outbreak which had all commissioners of health in attendance.
He said Meningitis A has been successfully eradicated but it has resurfaced with a different face which is referred to as Meningitis ‘C’ and has claimed several lives.
He insisted that only early preparation will forestall more victims and casualties.
He said “There is a need to inform us that there have been reported cases of Meningitis ‘C’ in our country and it is killing lives. The Type ‘A’ has been successfully dealt with and now we are battling with the ‘C’ type. I call on all state governors especially those of the north-west to start warming up to introduce vaccines and must not rest on their oars.”
Last year, World Health Organisation warned of large meningitis outbreak in Africa after an acute shortage of meningitis C-containing vaccine threatens to severely limit the world’s ability to minimize the number of people affected.