Nigeria: 10 Feared Dead in Measles Outbreak in Kano
10 January 2008
Posted to the web 10 January 2008
Ibrahim Shuaibu
Kano
Ten children were feared dead yesterday in Kano State following an outbreak of measles, while another 100 were receiving treatment in various hospitals across the state.
THISDAY investigations revealed that about 50 children were admitted at the Muhammad Sunusi Hospital in Kano, while over 48 children were also admitted in Hasiya Bayero Hospital in Kano City.
A source at the Muhammad Sunusi Hospital, where the deaths were reported, revealed that the parents of the dead children were bitter about their children's death, thus they were unwilling to talk about the incident.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital also refused to answer any question from THISDAY.
In Gezawa, Minjibir and Nassarawa Local Government areas, there were also reported cases of the epidemic as an unspecified number of children were admitted in various hospitals in the areas.
Speaking to THISDAY on telephone, the state Epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammed Nasiru Mahmud, said his ministry had received reports of over 100 children infected with the disease.
Mahmud said: "Already, the government has sent its team of professional doctors to look at the causes of the epidemic."
Mahmud said the areas mostly affected were Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, Tarauni and Fagge Local Government areas.
The four local government areas, according to him, had recorded 53 cases of children infected with the epidemic.
The Epidemiologist declined comments when asked to give the number of deaths recorded so far, saying that he could not say if there were cases of death.
He said his priority was to get the children treated as well as make sure that the epidemic did not escalate.
"If there are cases of death, it would be irrational to say the number as we are much more interested in treating those affected as well as guard against any escalation. To me, this is the most important thing for now," he said.
When THISDAY visited the Hasiya Bayero Hospital in Kano, the hospital's management had created a special unit for the treatment of the children.
Most of the infected children at the unit were not provided with beds as the beds available were not enough to go round.
The state Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Aishatu Kiru, confirmed the outbreak of the epidemic, saying that three children died in her presence at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano yesterday.
She, however, said she could not say specifically the number of deaths recorded as she had not been provided with the statistics.
According to her, "The parents should be held responsible for the outbreak of the epidemic as they refused to immunise their children at the appropriate time and at the designated centres."
10 January 2008
Posted to the web 10 January 2008
Ibrahim Shuaibu
Kano
Ten children were feared dead yesterday in Kano State following an outbreak of measles, while another 100 were receiving treatment in various hospitals across the state.
THISDAY investigations revealed that about 50 children were admitted at the Muhammad Sunusi Hospital in Kano, while over 48 children were also admitted in Hasiya Bayero Hospital in Kano City.
A source at the Muhammad Sunusi Hospital, where the deaths were reported, revealed that the parents of the dead children were bitter about their children's death, thus they were unwilling to talk about the incident.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital also refused to answer any question from THISDAY.
In Gezawa, Minjibir and Nassarawa Local Government areas, there were also reported cases of the epidemic as an unspecified number of children were admitted in various hospitals in the areas.
Speaking to THISDAY on telephone, the state Epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammed Nasiru Mahmud, said his ministry had received reports of over 100 children infected with the disease.
Mahmud said: "Already, the government has sent its team of professional doctors to look at the causes of the epidemic."
Mahmud said the areas mostly affected were Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, Tarauni and Fagge Local Government areas.
The four local government areas, according to him, had recorded 53 cases of children infected with the epidemic.
The Epidemiologist declined comments when asked to give the number of deaths recorded so far, saying that he could not say if there were cases of death.
He said his priority was to get the children treated as well as make sure that the epidemic did not escalate.
"If there are cases of death, it would be irrational to say the number as we are much more interested in treating those affected as well as guard against any escalation. To me, this is the most important thing for now," he said.
When THISDAY visited the Hasiya Bayero Hospital in Kano, the hospital's management had created a special unit for the treatment of the children.
Most of the infected children at the unit were not provided with beds as the beds available were not enough to go round.
The state Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Aishatu Kiru, confirmed the outbreak of the epidemic, saying that three children died in her presence at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano yesterday.
She, however, said she could not say specifically the number of deaths recorded as she had not been provided with the statistics.
According to her, "The parents should be held responsible for the outbreak of the epidemic as they refused to immunise their children at the appropriate time and at the designated centres."