Nigeria introduces groundbreaking 5-in-1 meningitis vaccine – a game changer in Africa’s fight against the disease

2024-04-13 12:08:16

Africa’s most populous country Nigeria has become the first country in the world to introduce a meningitis-by-2030-with-new-vaccine-introduction-in-nigeria/” title=”The WHO Makes Strides to Reduce Meningitis by 2030 with New Vaccine Introduction in Nigeria”>5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis, also known as meningitis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Men5CV preparation protects against five serotypes of meningococci. Meningococci are bacteria and are transmitted to other people through droplets, such as when coughing and sneezing.

The new combination vaccine offers more comprehensive protection than previously used vaccines, which are only effective against one serotype of the pathogen, said WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus. It has the potential to “prevent future outbreaks and save many lives.” The launch in Nigeria brings the world closer to the goal of reversing meningitis by 2030.

The West African country with a population of around 220 million people is located in Africa’s “meningitis belt,” which includes 26 countries. Last year, the continent experienced a 50 percent increase in reported meningitis cases, according to the WHO. A meningococcal outbreak in Nigeria led to 1,742 suspected cases between October 1 and March 11, including 101 confirmed cases and 153 deaths.