The Men5CV vaccine gives a robust protect in opposition to the 5 main strains of the meningococcal micro organism – A, C, W, Y and X – which trigger the illness.
Recognized by the model identify MenFive, it supplies broader safety than the vaccine at the moment utilized in a lot of Africa, which is simply efficient in opposition to the A pressure.
Defeating a ‘lethal foe’
“Meningitis is an outdated and lethal foe, however this new vaccine holds the potential to vary the trajectory of the illness, stopping future outbreaks and saving many lives,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-Basic.
The rollout in Nigeria represents one step nearer in direction of the objective of complete elimination by 2030, he added.
Meningitis is the irritation of the tissues surrounding the mind and spinal twine and could be deadly. Signs usually embrace headache, fever and stiff neck.
There are a number of causes, together with viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic pathogens. Probably the most critical – bacterial meningitis – may lead to blood poisoning and might severely disable or kill inside 24 hours after being contracted.
Vaccination marketing campaign
Nigeria is among the many 26 meningitis hyper-endemic international locations of Africa, an space often called the African Meningitis Belt.
WHO stated 153 individuals died in an outbreak in Nigeria between 1 October 2023 and 11 March of this 12 months. A vaccination marketing campaign was launched in late March to achieve greater than one million individuals aged 29 and beneath.
“Northern Nigeria, notably the states of Jigawa, Bauchi and Yobe have been badly hit by the lethal outbreak of meningitis, and this vaccine supplies well being staff with a brand new device to each cease this outbreak but additionally put the nation on a path to elimination,” stated Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate of the Nigerian Ministry of Well being and Social Welfare.
WHO stated the brand new vaccine has the potential to considerably scale back meningitis instances and advance progress in defeating the illness, which is very essential for international locations like Nigeria the place a number of serogroups are prevalent.
World Points Information with Newsmaac
