The federal government has alerted that Meningitis Type ‘C’ is on the prowl and like other severe diseases, it has claimed several lives and is threatening to do more in the absence of vaccines. Meningitis is a serious and often deadly disease in which an outside layer of the brain or spinal cord becomes infected and swollen, it is usually caused by a virus or bacterium. This was announced by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Abdulsalam Nasidi at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, during the  emergency National Council on Health on Lassa fever outbreak which had all commissioners of health in attendance.

He said Type ‘A’ meningitis has been successfully dealt with but with time, it has resurfaced with a different face which is referred to as Meningitis ‘C’ and has claimed several lives.He called on state governors‎, especially in the north-west, to start planning and warming up towards the introduction of vaccines in order to fight the disease to a halt. He said early preparation will forestall more victims and casualties. “There is a need to inform us that there have been reported cases of Meningitis ‘C’ in our country and it is killing lives. The Type ‘A’ has been successfully dealt with and now we are battling with the ‘C’ type. I call on all state governors especially those of the north-west to start warming up to introduce vaccines and must not rest on their oars.”