At least 17 schoolchildren across five schools in Nigeria’s northeastern Yobe state have died following an outbreak of meningitis, authorities have confirmed.
The state commissioner for education, Mohammed Sani-Idris, informed said that among the deceased are students from primary schools and boarding secondary schools.
A total of 473 suspected cases have been recorded so far, he added.
Meningitis is an infection that causes acute inflammation of the outer layers of the brain and spinal cord. It can be life-threatening unless diagnosed and treated early. Vaccination is an effective way of preventing meningitis.
Earlier this year, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) issued a public health advisory on the disease, noting that the dry season could increase the risk of infection, especially with crowding and poor ventilation.
Most cases of the disease in Nigeria are reported in what is known as the “Meningitis Belt,” which covers all 19 states in the northern region.
