Nigeria first country to introduce ‘revolutionary’ meningitis vaccine
Nigeria has become the first country to roll out a “revolutionary” five-in-one vaccine against meningitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement on Friday.
Nigeria has become the first country to roll out a “revolutionary” five-in-one vaccine against meningitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement on Friday.
The Men5CV vaccine offers a powerful shield against the five major strains of the meningococcal bacteria - A, C, W, Y and X - which cause the disease.
Known by the brand name MenFive, it provides broader protection than the vaccine currently used in much of Africa, which is only effective against the A strain.
Defeating a ‘deadly foe’
“Meningitis is an old and deadly foe, but this new vaccine holds the potential to change the trajectory of the disease, preventing future outbreaks and saving many lives,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General.
The rollout in Nigeria represents one step closer towards the goal of total elimination by 2030, he added.
Meningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can be fatal. Symptoms often include headache, fever and stiff neck.
There are multiple causes, including viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic pathogens. The most serious - bacterial meningitis - can also result in blood poisoning and can seriously disable or kill within 24 hours after being contracted.
Vaccination campaign
Nigeria is among the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries of Africa, an area known as the African Meningitis Belt.
WHO said 153 people died in an outbreak in Nigeria between 1 October 2023 and 11 March of this year. A vaccination campaign was launched in late March to reach more than a million people aged 29 and under.
“Northern Nigeria, particularly the states of Jigawa, Bauchi and Yobe were badly hit by the deadly outbreak of meningitis, and this vaccine provides health workers with a new tool to both stop this outbreak but also put the country on a path to elimination,” said Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate of the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
WHO said the new vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce meningitis cases and advance progress in defeating the disease, which is especially important for countries like Nigeria where multiple serogroups are prevalent.
© UN News (2024) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: UN News
Where next?
Browse related news topics:
Read the latest news stories:
- Trumps War on Global Governance: Lessons from the Past on How to Fight Back Wednesday, February 19, 2025
- Trumps Proposed Gaza Takeover Denounced as Mad Ethnic Cleansing Plan Wednesday, February 19, 2025
- Ukraine Peace Plan that Involves Meeting Kremlin Demands Is a Trap, Not a Way Out Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- Shaping AI Rules Through Trade Agreements Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- Fatima’s Story: The Struggles of Afghan Women Under Taliban Rule Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- Only Political Will Can End World Hunger: Food Isnt Scarce, but Many People Cant Access It Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- World’s Largest Religious Gathering Becomes Trans-Inclusive Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- World News in Brief: $53.2 billion needed for Palestinian recovery, UN condemns UNRWA schools raid, Lebanon-Israel tensions continue Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- Amid ‘clear’ threat of nuclear war, Guterres tells Security Council multilateral off-ramp is essential Tuesday, February 18, 2025
- UN environment agency calls for urgent action on ‘triple planetary crisis’ Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Learn more about the related issues: