Nigeria rolls out meningitis vaccine that protects against five strains
The country has all major factors that determine meningitis infection, such as a hot and dry environment, dusty atmospheric conditions and poor immunity.
Nigeria recently became the first country to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization, which protects people against five strains of meningococcus bacteria.
The Conversation Africa asked Idris Mohammed, a professor of infectious diseases and immunology and former board chair of Nigeria’s National Programme on Immunisation, to explain the new vaccine and its likely impact.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, usually caused by infection. It can be fatal. Meningitis can be caused by several species of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
The highest global burden is seen with bacterial meningitis. Around one in six people who get this type of meningitis die. One in five have severe complications.
The main bacteria responsible for the disease are Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The main symptoms are sudden high fever, backache, stiff neck, headaches, nausea, vomiting and intense dislike for sunlight (photophobia).
Patients with a severe infection can experience confusion, delirium and loss of consciousness. Meningitis can affect people of any age.
Meningitis bacteria are transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters with an infected person, facilitates its spread. The average incubation period is four days but can range between two and...
