The outbreak

A vaccination campaign is underway in Nigeria to contain an outbreak of meningitis C, a strain of meningitis which first emerged in the country in 2013. Since the beginning of this year, the country has reported over 4637 suspected cases and over 500 deaths across five states.

What is meningitis and why does it affect Nigeria?

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and can cause severe brain damage. Meningococcal meningitis is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated. Though cases of meningitis occur throughout the world, large, recurring epidemics affect an extensive region of sub-Saharan Africa known as the “meningitis belt” which includes 26 countries from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

Why air ambulance transportation is important

Severe meningitis cases need to be managed in specialist intensive care centers, especially for children.

Therefore air ambulance transportation is an essential tool for getting these patients to the right medical facility within the correct timeframe to prevent further deterioration and death.

For detailed information on air ambulance transportation across West and Central Africa and on Nigeria’s current meningitis outbreak read our article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/keeping-yourself-your-team-safe-during-meningitis-doctors-nigeria?platform=hootsuite