Experts raise alarm over bacteria disease while Nigeria still battling resurgence of Diphtheria

A silent but dangerous bacterial infection is sweeping through Nigeria, affecting 85 to 87 per cent of the population, yet few are aware of its risks, Professor Stella Ifeanyi Smith, the director of Research and Professor of Microbiology at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), revealed.
H. pylori is a type of bacteria that infects the stomach lining. It is a major cause of gastritis (stomach inflammation), peptic ulcers (sores in the stomach or small intestine), and, in some cases, gastric cancer.With an alarming 85–87 H. pylori is a type of bacteria that infects the stomach lining. It is a major cause of gastritis (stomach inflammation), peptic ulcers (sores in the stomach or small intestine), and, in some cases, gastric cancer.With an alarming 85–87 per cent prevalence rate in Nigeria, far above the global average of 43 per cent, H. pylori are silently infecting millions yet receives little attention or funding compared to diseases like Ebola and COVID-19.
Smith, while speaking with journalists in Lagos yesterday, emphasised the urgent need for greater awareness, better diagnostic methods, and improved treatment adherence to combat antimicrobial resistance.
“H. pylori is a bacterial infection that can be treated and cured with antibiotics. However, treatment requires two antibiotics over 10 to 14 days, and many patients stop taking their medication too soon, leading to drug resistance,” she explained.
Her seven-year study, funded by the German Research Foundation, revealed that 95 per cent of H. pylori cases were resistant to metronidazole (Flagyl)—a commonly used antibiotic. Unlike viruses that spread rapidly through inhalation, H. pylori are often acquired in childhood, with studies showing up to 80 per cent of Nigerian children under 10 testing positive. Yet, the long-term impact remains underestimated.
While only one to three per cent of infected individuals develop gastric cancer, Smith’s team discovered cases in Nigerians under 30 years old, a troubling trend given that gastric cancer typically appears in older adults. “In Ife, we found people in their 30s with gastric cancer linked to H. pylori.This shows we cannot afford to ignore it,” she revealed.
To address this crisis, Smith founded the African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group, which established the African Helicobacter Pylori Registry. This initiative tracks treatment effectiveness across Africa, ensuring patients are properly diagnosed and monitored post-treatment to prevent resistance.
Smith stressed that sustained funding and physician education are critical in curbing the spread of H. pylori and reducing its deadly complications. “With proper awareness and treatment adherence, we can drastically cut down on gastric cancer cases linked to this infection,” she stated.
She urged policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals to recognize H. pylori as a public health priority, advocating for widespread screening, improved treatment guidelines, and increased funding for research and patient care. “People think H. pylori is harmless, but it silently wreaks havoc over time. It’s time to take it seriously,” she warned.