Nigeria: Meningitis Outbreak Emergency Plan of Action operation update n° 1 (MDRNG021)

A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

Since the first case of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) was reported in the North-Western Region of Nigeria in week 50 of 2016, not less than 4,255 suspected cases had been reported with 455 deaths and case fatality rate (CFR) of 10.7% from 128 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The outbreak reached epidemic proportion in five states, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Niger States. As of week, 13 of 2017, all 14 LGAs in Zamfara State as well as neighbouring LGAs in Sokoto and Katsina were affected. Some of these LGAs had reached epidemic thresholds and therefore the Nigeria Health Authority declared it epidemic. On 22 April 2017, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released CHF 234,843 from the Disaster Relief and Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) respond to the epidemic, over a period of two months. The table below shows the list of affected states and cases reported as of 9th of April 2017. Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states account for 93% of the cases reported (Nigeria CDC sitrep on 11th April 2017).