Meningitis Outbreak in Northwest Nigeria Claims 26 Lives Since January

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian health officials confirmed on March 11, 2025, that a meningitis outbreak in the northwest has resulted in the deaths of at least 26 individuals since January. The state of Kebbi has reported over 200 suspected cases amid efforts to control the spread of the disease.

Musa Ismail, the Kebbi state commissioner for health, addressed reporters in Birnin Kebbi, stating that health teams have been deployed to the affected areas and isolation centers established to mitigate further transmission. The outbreak began in late January and has raised alarms among neighboring states.

Nearby Sokoto state, located about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Kebbi, is urging its residents to remain vigilant following reports of suspected cases. Faruk Abubakar, the Sokoto state health commissioner, recommended that individuals experiencing symptoms such as high fever, stiff neck, and severe headaches seek immediate care at local health facilities.

Meningitis, a serious infection affecting the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, is notably more common during Nigeria’s hot season. The disease presents considerable public health challenges in Africa’s most populous nation.

Efforts to combat meningitis in Nigeria come against a backdrop of ongoing battles with other diseases, notably malaria. The country was previously supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in its health initiatives, though that assistance has recently ceased. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 2,765 suspected meningitis cases and 190 deaths within the country between 2022 and 2023.

Additionally, in 2024, the World Health Organization noted a similar outbreak that claimed the lives of 153 individuals. Nigeria is part of the African Meningitis Belt, an area with heightened risk for such outbreaks, and is actively working on a strategic roadmap approved by the World Health Assembly in November 2020 aimed at eradicating meningitis by 2030.

As the situation develops, health authorities and government officials continue to emphasize the importance of public awareness and prompt medical response to safeguard the health of residents throughout the affected regions.