At least 26 people have died due to a meningitis outbreak in Nigeria’s Kebbi State, located in the country’s northwest, according to media reports.
Nigeria is one of Africa’s hotspots for the deadly disease, with over 1,700 cases recorded last year and more than 150 deaths across seven states.
Musa Ismail, Kebbi State’s Commissioner for Health, confirmed the outbreak, stating that “there is a rising number of cases in three regions within the state.”
“We are under significant pressure due to this unfortunate outbreak,” Ismail said in a statement, citing symptoms such as fever and severe headaches.
So far, 248 suspected cases have been identified, with 11 samples sent to the national reference laboratory in Abuja. While two samples tested negative, results for the remaining nine are pending.
In response, the state government has distributed medication to affected areas and established isolation centers with support from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in Gwandu, Jega, and Aliero—three of the hardest-hit regions.
Meanwhile, the neighboring Sokoto State has also issued a health warning after confirming cases of the disease.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viral or bacterial infections and spreads primarily through sneezing, coughing, and close contact in crowded living conditions.
