Nigeria: Meningitis cases

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Source: http://leadershipnigeria.com/news/117/ARTICLE/4073/2008-12-19.html

Meningitis Kills 29 In Sokoto
Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto
December 19th, 2008

A disease suspected to be meningitis has claimed the lives of twenty nine persons, most of them children in Aggur village of Shagari Local government in Sokoto state .

LEADERSHIP

sources revealed that forty five persons are said to have been receiving treatment in their houses as a result of the disease .

Mallam Abubakar Dikko , a resident of the area told LEADERSHIP yesterday that the people have now embarked on fervent prayers to seek divine intervention from the shackles of the epidemic .

The villagers also claimed that they had reported the outbreak to the authorities of Shagari local government since last Friday but no action has been taken by them .

The Deputy Director of Primary Healthcare Department in the area , Alhaji Ibrahim Isa confirmed the story .

He however, disclosed that only twenty four ( 24) died as a result of the outbreak of the disease .

The Permanent Secretary in the state's Ministry of Health , Alhaji Umaru Attahiru also confirmed only 'five to six deaths.''

Attahiru stated that the Ministry had yesterday despatched a high-powered medical team to the area .

The Permanent Secretary further said that , the state government has directed the local government to isolate the recuperating victims of the epidemic .

"The patients are presenting back pains, diarrhoea and fever. We will get to the root of the matter soon,' he vowed.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200901270449.html

Nigeria: Meningitis Kills four in Kaduna
27 January 2009

Four people have been confirmed dead following an outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis in Ikara local government area of Kaduna State.Confirming the outbreak to newsmen in Ikara yesterday, the council Chairman,Alhaji Gambo Lawal, said the affected areas were Unguwar Lado,Gidan Kyadiri, Unguwar Magajin Gari, Gidan Jaki and Yari Kafi - all in Kurmin Kogi district of Ikara council.

He said 100 people had been treated and the council has spent over N300,000 for the provision of medicine.

Lawal, however, called on the community to report any mysterious disease in the area for immediate response.

Also confirming the outbreak,the district head of Kurmin Kogi and the Yarin Zazzau, Alhaji Muhammed Lawal, said that the outbreak was reported to the council Chairman for early intervention.

The district head said the disease, which is contageous, was successfully controlled following urgent response by a medical team from the local government. (NAN)

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://leadershipnigeria.com/news/149/ARTICLE/6081/2009-01-28.html

FG Alerts Govs Over Possible Outbreak Of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis

Winifred Ogbebor, Abuja
January 28th, 2009


The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has issued an emergency health alert on the possible outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in certain parts of the country. The health alert was specifically issued based on information available to the Ministry about the outbreak of the disease in Zinder Region of Niger Republic where there are 62 reported cases of infection and one case of death.

"In view of the fact that there are certain states sharing boundaries with Niger Republic, the Minister has gone a step further to alert the three States (Kano, Katsina and Jigawa) about this very important matter," the minister stated.

"In letters to the Governors of the three States, he requested that they should put in place certain measures which are necessary for protecting the people.

"These include, intensified active surveillance, procurement of oily chloramphenicol, strengthening of the state's public health laboratory, improved supportive supervision to the LGAs and health facilities and increased public awareness".

Ahead of any action by the states however, the Minister said the Federal Ministry of Health has released to the respective states and other at risk states 800 doses of oily chloramphenicol to be able to manage the reported cases and also the Ministry has gone ahead to assess the capability of the state laboratories to carry out laboratory confirmation of the disease.

Professor Osotimehin also informed them of the efforts of the Ministry towards procuring some quantities of the CSM vaccine which he said is scarce worldwide at this point in time. He expressed his confidence that this will be procured in due course to bring the disease to its knees.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://leadershipnigeria.com/news/149/ARTICLE/6365/2009-02-03.html

Meningitis Kills 15 In Katsina

Lawal Sa?idu, Katsina
February 3rd, 2009

No fewer than 15 persons have been reported dead in Katsina State following a cerebral spinal meningitis epidemic that broke out in the state over the weekend.

A tour of hospitals in the state, by our correspondent showed that hundreds of people are currently hospitalised as a result of the outbreak of the disease in several local government council areas and Katsina, the state capital.

In an effort to confirm the figures of the affected, LEADERSHIP reporter was told that government has ordered health officials to keep mum and have been "gagged" with a warning to desist from speaking to the press on any development in the state.

This order frustrated LEADERSHIP correspondent's efforts to obtain official details on the epidemic.

The state commissioner of health, Alhaji Danlami Musawa told newsmen that he was barred from speaking on behalf of the government, disclosing that it was only the governor's adviser on media that is authorised to speak on any development in the state, especially on the outbreak of the epidemic.

LEADERSHIP

gathered that as at last weekend 10 people were reported to have died in Kusada local government area, two in Sandamu and three in Charanchi, while hundreds of people were reported hospitalised in various hospitals across the state.

LEADERSHIP

gathered that it was only last weekend that health officials in Sandamu local government area met with traditional rulers where they alerted them on the outbreak in the area.

According to the local government director of health Hajiya Rahanatu, no fewer than 48 people were affected by the dreaded epidemic in the area at the time.

She advised people in the area to be vigilant.

However, LEADERSHIP further gathered that the "keep quiet" order issued by the state government was occasioned by the deluge of stories that followed the report of last year's outbreak of malaria that killed 401 people, including children, in 28 days.

Miffed by the reports which did not portray government in good light, especially regarding its preparedness and subsequently in its distribution of relief materials, the government was alleged to have sanctioned its officials against disclosing official positions on any matter in the state.

One Malam Abdulrashid whose son was hospitalised in Katsina General Hospital, spoke to LEADERSHIP where he wondered why a government that only recently spent a huge sum of money publicising a wedding ceremony was not interested in issuing a health warning on a dreaded disease like cerebral spinal meningitis.

It would be recalled that LEADERSHIP reported the news elaborately last week when the Minister of Health Professor Babatunde Osotimehin issued a health alert on the possible outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in some parts of the country.

The health alert was issued specifically based on information made available to the government on the existence of the epidemic in Zinder region of Niger Republic, only a shouting distance from the heart of Katsina State.

The occasion disclosed sixty-two cases of infections and one death.

The minister had warned thus: "In view of the fact that there are certain states sharing boundaries with Niger Republic, we have adopted the stitch in time strategy to warn these states about this very important matter.

The states sharing boundaries with Niger include Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa.

However, in letters drafted specifically for the attention of the governors of three of the states, Osotimehin requested that they should put in place certain measures that are mandatory for protecting the people because of their proximity to the outbreak.

The states include Jigawa, Kano and Katsina.

The measures recommended by the minister include intensified active surveillance, procurement of chloramphenicol, strengthening of the states' public health laboratories, improved supportive supervision to the local government areas and improved public awareness on the possible outbreak.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://leadershipnigeria.com/news/149/ARTICLE/6415/2009-02-04.html

Meningitis: Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi And Jigawa
Justus Nduwugwe, Sunday Isuwa, Abuja and Mansur Sani Malam, Kano
February 4th, 2009

With the recent outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in Katsina State which claimed no fewer than 15 lives, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano and Jigawa States have now become vulnerable to the epidemic according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Agency has however assured the public that the federal government is taking prompt and proactive action by ensuring the distribution of drugs to the affected areas.

NEMA, which is the coordinating agency on disaster and emergency, said the federal government has mandated ministry of health to start distributing the drugs to states like Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina who are very close to Niger Republic where the endemic begun.

Speaking while hosting journalists, the director general of the agency, AVM Audu Mohammed Bida conceded that they have written to all state governors to ensure that disaster and emergency cases are taken seriously.

"Meningitis is endemic that we should not play with. We inform the governors that they should support the health personnel to ensure that the drugs is been distributed to the people especially in the rural areas.

"We alert the public of the possible outbreak of the meningitis recently. The states that abide by our early warning might not be affected. We write to the governors to collaborate with the people at the ministry of health by ensuring that they do not only sensitize the people on the menace, but to provide adequate drugs. The minister of health is planning to travel with some of our people to Kano, Jigawa and Katsina because those are areas that are close to Niger Republic were the outbreak started", Bida stated.

On the agency's plans for disaster, the DG , said that they have met relevant agencies for disaster training programme to begin in six universities

"We are not only going to train our staff alone in disaster management. The training on disaster management would now begin from primary, secondary and the tertiary institutions.

"We are in collaboration with the National Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, were the students that undergo such a prestigious school, are also trained in the disaster management. Apart from NIPSS, we are also collaborating with United Nations Spider Programmes that is with the sole aim of providing a universal proactive approach to disaster management.

Meanwhile, Kano State government has set up State and Local Government Emergency Preparedness and Response committees to tackle possible outbreak of meningitis in the state.

The formation of the committees followed an outbreak at the neighboring Niger republic where 62 cases and one death were reported.

This was disclosed to newsmen yesterday by the state commissioner of Health, Malama A'ishatu Kiru shortly after she met District Police Officers and district heads from the 44 local government areas of the state who met to strategies measures to curb any possible outbreak.

Reliable sources revealed that there are reports of meningitis in some local government areas of the state due to change of weather and increasing population.

The commissioner also explained that the state government is worried over the reported cases and is taking adequate measures to prevent any outbreak throughout the state.

"We have met with DPOs of the 44 local government areas as well as district heads who were the Vice chairmen of the local government emergency preparedness and response committee on meningitis to strategise how to prevent outbreak in the state following the reports of outbreak at the neighboring Niger republic".

Malama Kiru said a rigorous campaign to educate the populace has been flagged to ensure people are aware of measures to prevent any outbreak in the state.

"We are flagging off our campaign to educate the populace on the need to sleep in rooms with open windows, reduce congestions while sleeping and ensure ventilation wherever they are", the commissioner revealed.

She further assured the commitment of the state government to tackle any outbreak, saying measures have been taken to ensure maximum prevention of the disease in the 44 local government areas of the state.

According to her "We hope the measures taken that includes provision of CSM vaccines will tackle any possible outbreak, as we are determined to control any sporadic case to minimal level when they occurs", she mentioned.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/mem2432009.html

Meningitis: Medicine Sans-Frontiers intervenes in Katsina
From MU?AWUYA B. IDRIS, Katsina
The international Medicine Sans-Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders) will commence immunization against cerebro-spinal meningitis in the endemic wards of Charanchi local government of Katsina state . The affected endemic wards are Charanchi, Banye and Kuraye.
Speaking before the commencement of the training, the team leader, Dr. Helen Fulson explained that the exercise would last for three days.
Dr. Helen commended Charanchi local government for its support and cooperation toward the success of the exercise.
In a remark, the chairman of the local government council, Dr. Badamasi Lawal assured the local council?s support to the Doctors inorder to achieve their objectives.
Dr. Lawal urged health personnel involved in the exercise to work hard and the people to come out and receive the CSM immunization.
The primary healthcare coordinator of the local council, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf Kurfi explained that besides the high risk areas the exercise would cover the rest of the seven wards of the local government.
In a related development, an outbreak of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) has claimed the lives of five people in Kaita Local Government Area of Katsina state.
The primary healthcare coordinator of the area, Hajiya Aisha Sulaiman revealed this when she visited the area.
According to reports from the National Programme on Immunization (NPI), about 370 people were attacked by CSM in the area.
The Medicine Sans Frontiers are expected to be in Kaita for the next four days.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://www.nasarawastate.org/articl...ter-visits-Jigawa-Kano-and-Katsina/Page1.html

Outbreak of meningitis: Health Minister visits Jigawa, Kano and Katsina
By Hassan Zaggi

The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, has paid an emergency working visit to Jigawa, Kano and Kastina to assess the situation on ground on the outbreak of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in the states.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health Marshall Gundu, and made available to Nigerian Newsday, stated that in Kano, the minister was conducted round the Infectious Disease Hospital, Kano by the director of medical services Dr. Wali Suleiman, in which a total of 1,260 cases of CSM have been reported and 53 have been confirmed dead, adding that "out of the 44 local governments in the state, 42 are affected, 12 are at a peak level while 20 are at alert level. The minister therefore directed that additional vaccines be delivered to the state immediately."

According to the statement, while in Jigawa, the minister paid a courtesy visit to the governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, in which he told the governor that he was on an emergency working visit to assess the situation on ground on the outbreak of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis."

"Jigawa, Kano and Sokoto states sharing border with the Zindar region of Niger Republic has been sent an alert on the outbreak of CMS and the federal government is doing its best to supply vaccines and drugs to the affected states," the minister said, adding that "presently, there is transition in the world as per vaccines production, and a new generation of vaccine is to be out very soon." The minister therefore advised the Jigawa state governor to ensure that the state has a solid primary healthcare system, which according to him, will provide good health for the people.

While thanking the minister for taking time to immediately visit Jigawa to assess the outbreak of CSM in the state, governor Lamido said he was impressed with the patience and concern for the masses which the minister has shown, vowing that "on our part, we would do everything possible to support you in your quest to improve the health sector in Nigeria."

In Katsina, the minister who was received by the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema, said "there had been epidemic outbreak of CSM from neighbouring Niger Republic, and to get on top of the situation, I have decided to come and assess the situation on ground."

Continuing, the minister told the governor that "we are aware that you have done well in terms of drugs and immunization, but we need to improve our primary healthcare system which will help in reducing the number of deaths."

Earlier, governor Shema who expressed gratitude to the minister, said he was happy with the quick response of the minister. He revealed that "out of the 34 local government areas of Katsina state, only 8 were affected by the epidemic," adding that "we have set up rural ambulances to carry out routine immunization and vaccination in the rural areas."

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200903250426.html

Nigeria: Meningitis Killed 78 in Kano, 2999 Hospitalised - Report
Hassan a Karofi
25 March 2009

Cerebrospinal meningitis killed 78 people in Kano since the outbreak of the disease in December last year, according to reports released by the state's ministry of health yesterday.

Also, 2999 others were hospitalised across the 44 local government councils of the state. State commissioner for health Hajiya Aisha Isiyaku Kiru, who released the report, however told newsmen in Kano yesterday that the outbreak was now under control largely due to sustained measures by the state government.

The outbreak was mostly reported in nine local government areas of Garun Malam, Bebeji, Tsanyawa, Kibiya, Karaye, Kunchi, Kiru, Dambatta and Makoda, she said. According to her, 240,000 people would be vaccinated net week.

The commissioner also said 400 communities were combed with 100.000 people vaccinated within a short period of time to reduce the impact of the disease.

Kiru said 49,745 people were vaccinated in Bichi, Wudil, Bagwai, Gwarzo, Dawakin Kudu and Tofa. While describing inadequate vaccination as a major constraint against fighting the disease, she lamented the fact that states could not purchase the drugs directly.

She said the Federal Government released more than 366,000 doses of the CSM vaccines while UNICEF donated 700 oily chloramphenicol to the state.

The commissioner also said the state government was working in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, EU and other international coordinating group to tackle the menace in the state.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://www.financialstandardnews.com/home_newsdetail.asp?id=398978351851852

Addressing the meningitis, lassa fever pandemic

By Editorial


The recent health alert warning Nigerians of the out break of two deadly diseases, cerebrospinal meningitis and lassa fever must be taken seriously by the Federal Government. The warning on the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis was issued by Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, minister of Health who said the disease has killed over 333 people since the first reported case of the disease in December 2008.
According to him; ?As of today, we have recorded 5,323 cases with 333 deaths in 22 states. The first case of meningitis was reported to the Federal Ministry of Health in December 2008.? Cerebrospinal meningitis which is the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord is caused by viral or bacterial infections. The second warning from the National Lassa Fever Stakeholders? Forum (NLFSF) warns that Nigeria was rife with lassa fever. According to NLFSF, the country has a risk population of 51 million people, annual number of illness of about three million and annual death of about 58,330. The warning was issued by Professor George Akpede, national chairman of NLFSF during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Health in Abuja. Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease, transferred to human beings on contact with an infected animal usually rats.
Unlike the cerebrospinal meningitis which is triggered by extreme atmospheric conditions, the virus that causes lassa fever is carried in the urine and excreta of the rat. The lassa virus passed in the urine and droppings of the rat could also become air borne when the urine dries. Although the rats that carry the lassa virus do not fall ill or die as a result of the virus, they easily spread the disease to human beings on contact, consumption of the vector or consumption of food items contaminated by the virus. More than 55 persons have so far died from lassa fever epidemic since the outbreak earlier this month. So far, reports available show that both diseases are more prevalent in the northern parts of the country though not restricted to that region. They are both more common during the dry season because of the intense heat and bush burning which drives rats out of bushes into people?s homes.
According to Professor Akpede ?the best way to prevent contracting lassa fever is for individuals to avoid contact with the mouse that is commonly referred to as African soft furred rat (Mastomys natalensis) in every way possible. This is the brownish, long tail rat called Emo in Yorubaland. The virus is in the urine and faeces of the rat. The fever is more endemic mostly around the dry season because the rat comes out when people burn bush. They then go to human habitation. When they urinate, they pass out the lassa virus and the virus in the urine is later spread by air when the urine dries off and inhaled.? According to him, if the threats posed by lassa fever is to be effectively tackled, the Federal Government must as a matter of urgency make budgetary provision for national prevalence and morbidity/mortality for Nigerians to know areas that are prone to the dreaded disease because ?lassa fever is a silent killer that continues to send thousands to their grave although other causes may have been attributed due to low awareness on the part of the citizenry.?
The Federal Government must therefore deploy adequate resources to fight both diseases which have left a large segment of the population on the verge of annihilation. According to Professor Akpede, one way for the Federal Government to succeed in its efforts at combating the diseases is to establish zonal Lassa fever control centres and a central coordinating agency to help tackle advocacy crusade as well as preventive and curative assignments. Professor Akpede who argued that the battle against lassa fever has been largely hampered by lack of political will, lack of information and poor funding also called for attitudinal change among Nigerians, saying that negative behaviour bad hygienic environment, beliefs and other poverty related factors worsen the disease situation.
Certainly, the Federal Government must realise that if efforts at controlling the spread of cerebrospinal meningitis and lassa fever is to have the desired affect, then it must take urgent measures to educate the public on the cause and consequences of the disease. This is because rats which transmit the disease are found all over the country and as such, they could easily have access to many people?s homes and contaminate food items. Moreover, with excruciating poverty afflicting over 40 per cent of Nigerians, hundreds of thousands of the citizenry have taken to eating rats and other wild rodents popularly referred to as bush meat as a delicacy. Many others who cannot afford to buy refrigerators or who cannot use their refrigerators because of the epileptic power supply have resorted storing their food in cupboards where rats easily contaminate them. There are also those who processing food stuff such as cassava flakes, maize, beans among others by spreading them outside in the sun to dry before selling to consumers. It is noteworthy that anybody who consumes these foodstuffs processed by drying under the sun where rats easily have access risks contacting lassa fever.
The Federal Government must put in place measures to inculcate Behaviour Change Communication (BBC), an advocacy campaign programme that provides a step-by-step approach and emphasises prevention through education, awareness and practical support for behaviour change to successfully contain the spread of both epidemics. Its major aim is to encourage and facilitate a voluntary adaptation of attitudinal changes to achieve desired results. This would involve the citizenry taking responsibility for cleaning of their immediate environment as well as ensuring adequate ventilation of the houses. If the citizenry imbibe the habits of handling and preserving food items hygienically and keeping themselves hydrated by drinking adequate water, they would have done something significant to protect themselves. The task of combating the cerebrospinal meningitis and lassa fever pandemic may appear tough one but it is achievable. The Federal Government must encourage Nigerians to adopt healthy habits and clean their environment more often because health is wealth just as a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/27/news/UN-UN-Nigeria-Meningitis.php

WHO: Meningitis death toll reaches 960 in Nigeria
The Associated Press
Published: March 27, 2009

GENEVA: The death toll from an outbreak of meningitis in Nigeria has risen to 960 people of out more than 17,000 people infected since Jan. 1, the World Health Organization said Friday.

"It's the first time we've had so many cases in northern Nigeria," an area outside the usual African "meningitis belt," said WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib.

She said Nigeria had registered 17,462 cases of meningitis during the three-month outbreak in Africa's most populous country and that WHO and other agencies are helping to vaccinate people against the disease.

Chaib said there is also a smaller meningitis outbreak to the north in Niger, which lies within the area more commonly affected by the disease, stretching from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

Chaib said Niger, to the north of Nigeria, has reported 4,513 people infected since the beginning of the year, with 169 deaths. In the last week alone, Niger has registered 1,071 cases, including 30 deaths, WHO said.

Meningitis is an inflammation of protective brain and spinal cord membranes and is caused by viral or bacterial infection.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/45more342009.html

45 more die, as CSM ravages Katsina
From Mu?awiya B. Idris, Katsina

Additional 45 people lost their lives as Cerebro Spinal Meningitis continues to ravage Katsina state.
Daily Triumph gathered that so far, 104 people have been reported dead in the state since the outbreak of the disease about two months ago.
It was further gathered that the recent casualties including women and children, occurred in three Local Government Areas of Kankia zone, namely, Kusada, Kankia and Bindawa.
The director of Primary Health Care Kankia Council, Alhaji Awwalu Ibrahim Badaru said over 500 people were affected by the disease.
Badaru explained that out of the number, 31 persons lost their lives, urging the state and local governments to provide adequate vaccines to treat cases of the disease.
At Bindawa, Daily Triumph learnt over 400 people were affected and out of the figure, seven children lost their lives.
The Director, Primary Health Care of Bindawa Area, Alhaji Badamasi Buhari explained that isolation camps were erected at Bindawa, Doro and Dallaje towns for treatment of the affected people.
Meanwhile, in Kusada, about 100 people were affected by the disease out of which seven lost their lives.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/33277/47/

Kano: Meningitis claims 150 in 4 months E-mail
Written by AbdulSalam Muhammad
Friday, 10 April 2009

KANO ? Death from the outbreak of Cerebra Spinal Meningitis (CSM) hit 150 over the last four months in Kano.

The Commissioner of Health, Malama Aisha Isyaku Kiru, told Vanguard in a telephone conversation that no fewer than 4,000 cases have been reported between last December and now.

Kiru said the state government had committed over N20 billion so far to combat the perennial scourge, pointing out that the disease has been brought under control.

?About 4,000 cases were reported since the out-break last December, with about 150 deaths so far. The state government has committed N20 billion to provide adequate drugs, and the situation is very much under control now,? she said.

The Commissioner explained that ?there are CSM belt across Africa which has cycle of 10-13 years,? adding that it is a natural phenomenon that can?t be easily prevented. She said government would continue to sensitise the people on the danger and preventive measure to minimize casualty, and as well provide adequate drugs to health centres to combat the scourge.

She lamented the shortage of vaccines across the globe, stressing that the situation compounded genuine effort to minimize the death toll.

"There are shortage of vaccines in the world now, that is why we are in this mess, but God will see us through with minimal deaths,? Kiru said.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis cases

Source: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/fd4c69de58f05ff656aab1537dec3191.htm


WEST AFRICA: Meningitis wanes in Nigeria
20 Apr 2009 21:43:17 GMT
Source: IRIN

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.

DAKAR, 20 April 2009 (IRIN) - The meningitis epidemic ? the worst to hit West and Central Africa in five years according to the UN ? is waning in hard-hit Nigeria, but M?decins Sans Fronti?res staff say the deadly disease is still spreading in parts of southern Niger.

Agencies estimate at least six million people in Nigeria and over two million in Niger between the ages of two and 30 ? the highest-risk group for infection ? require vaccinations.

In Nigeria meningitis had stricken 39,841 people and killed 1,886 as of 12 April.

To date meningitis has affected 8,292 people in Niger with 327 deaths; 871 in Chad with 102 deaths; and 2,892 in Burkina Faso with 389 deaths.

For a one-week period as of 12 April, new reported cases in Nigeria dropped to 3,830 from 6,678 two weeks prior ? the period Nigeria health officials are now calling the epidemic's peak.

The International Coordinating Group, a World Health Organization (WHO)-led interagency body that coordinates meningitis vaccines, has made 9.7 million vaccines available to health authorities and aid agencies across the region. So far MSF staff have vaccinated 2.7 million people in Nigeria and Niger.

MSF Switzerland's spokesperson, Claude Madhoudeau, said given that many West African countries lie in the meningitis belt, "Everybody was expecting a meningitis outbreak." But he said the magnitude of the outbreak required a broader response.

The "meningitis belt" spans sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia.

Ram?n Arrieta, head of the MSF emergency intervention in Niger's Dosso region, said in a recent communiqu?: "The initial [response] plan was very different from what we are facing right now. But the epidemic has spread to other zones so we have had to adapt our activities to the changing situation and vaccinate in new areas."

Between 1995 and 1997, the last period West Africa saw a major meningitis epidemic, at least 25,000 people died and 250,000 were infected. From December 2006 to May 2007, 53,000 cases of meningitis were reported and an estimated 4,000 people died across the region.

Response

In Nigeria the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) is supporting MSF to work alongside government health authorities to respond to the outbreak. WHO, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are also intervening.

"The response is going very smoothly and the caseload continues to drop," said an unnamed official from the Nigeria Health Ministry. The information was confirmed by ECHO spokesperson Claire Barrault speaking to IRIN from Gombe state in Nigeria where she was reporting on the campaign.

Nigeria Health Ministry statistics indicate more efficient reporting on outbreaks and treatment as compared to past epidemics in Nigeria, though instances of under-reporting, late reporting and lack of accurate laboratory data prevail. Thirteen percent of 342 health districts in Nigeria reported their caseload and case death rates late this year, according to government and WHO statistics.

MSF is also collaborating with the health ministries of Niger and Chad.

aj/np