Death of 269 People in Nigeria Due to Meningitis Outbreak

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control reports that the meningitis outbreak in the country has claimed the lives of 269 people in recent weeks. According to Reuters, in Africa's most populous country, as of Monday, 1,828 suspected cases of meningitis have been identified, with 269 fatalities. Last year, 33 people died from meningitis in Nigeria, but in 2009, the death toll exceeded 2,000. Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can be caused by viral or bacterial agents. It is primarily transmitted through kissing, sneezing, coughing, and close contact. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control states that it is collaborating with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders to control the meningitis outbreak. The World Health Organization announced on March 23 of this year that children aged 5 to 14 years have the highest incidence of meningitis in the recent epidemic in Nigeria. The organization states that a widespread vaccination campaign has begun to combat meningitis in Nigeria. Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, and neck stiffness.