Meningitis outbreak hits 1,966 in five states with 282 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Thursday, said the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) has reached an epidemic proportion with about 1,966 cases and 282 deaths recorded in five states namely, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Niger states.

Chief Executive Officer of the centre, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who disclosed this in Abuja, noted that out of the 1,966 suspected cases, 109 have been confirmed and are being treated since the outbreak of the disease in February.

“As at March 28 2017, the number of suspected cases reported for the 2016/2017 CSM season stands at 1,966 with the outbreak reaching epidemic proportions in five States- Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Niger States”, he said.

He said that the centre had deployed a response team to the affected states to vaccinate the residents and control further spread
of CSM.

According to him, Zamfara State has the highest number of confirmed cases of 44, followed by Katsina with 32, Sokoto 19, Kebbi
10 and Niger 4 confirmed cases.

He also said that there is an inter-agency response supporting the states to contain the outbreak through the primary mode of vaccination.

“Given the size of the outbreak and the number of states affected, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is leading a multi-agency
CSM Outbreak Control Team to coordinate the response. This team includes representatives from the NPHCDA, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, US Centers for Disease Control, Médecins Sans Frontières and EHealth Africa.”

He noted that the Outbreak Control Team will be focusing on communicating prevention messages, strengthening surveillance, case detection, verification and management as well as communication and coordination across the affected states.

“There is a vaccine available but it is not commercially available for the stereotype involved in this specific outbreak and we have to make application to the World Health Organisation for the vaccines.

“Thankfully, the vaccines have arrived and we have started vaccination campaign in Zamfara. We are in the process of starting
in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

“Meningitis is a tough disease especially during this period and it is associated with over-crowding, understanding the living
conditions in the country, people must keep their building ventilated,” he said.

Ihekweazu said that prevention and early detection was key to combating the disease, adding that if detected early, it could be
treated with antibiotics.

He said that the centre was working with the states by supporting and ensuring they have the supplies to combat the disease.
His words: “We understand meningitis peaks every year in the dry season in certain States and we must work better with these States to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives. We must work collectively to stop this outbreak and prevent outbreaks of this scale in the future”.

He urged Nigerians to avoid sleeping in overcrowded condition and if a lot of people must sleep together in the same room, the windows and doors must be open to allow enough ventilation.

This is even as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care Development Board on Thursday confirmed the death of yet another person due to cerebrospinal meningitis in the territory.

The board recorded four deaths on Tuesday in Durumi area of Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC. The Executive Secretary of the board, Rilwanu Mohammed, said that the death from the disease occurred in Dakwa, a border village of Bwari Area Council and Niger State on Wednesday.

“The four suspected cases we have were all in Durumi I and II in AMAC while one confirmed case of a child that just happened yesterday (Wednesday) in Dakwa of Bwari area council.

“The four that died in Durumi showed all signs of meningitis but there was an autopsy carried out in the one at Dakwa and was confirmed to be meningitis at the University of Abuja Teaching hospital, Gwagwalada.