A meningitis outbreak in Nigeria has left at least 151 people dead, with the majority of fatalities concentrated in the northern region.
Health officials report that children are particularly vulnerable to the disease, which has spread to 23 of the country’s 36 states.
The outbreak, which began in October, has escalated sharply in 2025. Nearly half of the deaths, 74 in total, occurred this year alone.
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) describes the surge in fatalities as “alarming.”
Many deaths have been linked to delayed medical care, with victims often arriving at health facilities too late for effective treatment, according to NCDC spokesperson Sani Datti. This issue, common in past outbreaks, has exacerbated the crisis.
The current outbreak is compounded by recent cuts to U.S. aid, which had previously supported Nigeria’s healthcare system and its efforts to combat diseases like meningitis.
Seasonal outbreaks are frequent during the dry season, especially in the north, where healthcare access is limited in rural areas.
Meningitis, which affects the brain and spinal cord, poses a significant health challenge for Nigeria, already burdened by high malaria rates.
Last week, Nigeria received over 1 million vaccine doses from the global vaccine alliance Gavi, marking a key step in the response.
Despite this, access to hospitals remains a major hurdle. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns that the most vulnerable populations are often the hardest to reach.
MSF urges mass vaccination campaigns to curb the rapid spread of the disease.