Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

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Source: http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=119237

Nigeria-Meningitis-Outbreak


Meningitis outbreak kills several children in northern Nigeria


APA, Abuja (Nigeria) As outbreak of Cerebra Spinal Meningitis (CSM) kills no fewer than 22 children in the last two months in Bauchi State, the Nigerian authorities on Tuesday in Abuja said they would urgently respond to curtail the outbreak of the disease reported in some other states.

Dr Musa Dambam, the Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), said about 138 cases of the disease were recorded in 15 of the 20 local government areas of the state between January and February.

?We have recorded 138 cases, with 22 dead in 15 local government areas of the state,? he said.

Dambam said the agency had intensified surveillance and conducted contact immunisation in the affected areas, to curtail the disease.

He said the agency had supplied 105,000 doses of CSM vaccines to the state, adding that a mass immunisation exercise would be conducted in the two endemic areas.

Dambam said the agency had embarked on a massive awareness campaign to sensitise communities on the symptoms and how to protect themselves from contracting the disease.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Babatunde Osotimehin, said on Wednesday that the government would continue to support efforts aimed at curbing the outbreak of the disease.

?I want to assure Nigerians that we are on top of this and that we would continue to provide succour to those who might require it.

?The Federal Ministry of Health, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, had already released more than 370,000 doses of potent CSM A+C vaccine to the affected states.

?Last year when we felt we were going to get enough vaccines to vaccinate all those that were vulnerable, the production could not meet the target,? he said.

He, however, said the ministry had now provided enough vaccines in the states perceived to be vulnerable to the disease, though reports indicated that there was outbreak in only two states.

MM/daj/APA
2010-03-03

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201003030453.html

Daily Trust (Abuja)
Nigeria: Meningitis Kills 13 in Jigawa
Yusha'u A Ibrahim
3 March 2010


Dutse ? About 13 persons were killed by Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in Jigawa State between January and March 1 this year, just as shortage of vaccines has marred vaccination in affected areas.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Dutse, the state Commissioner for Health Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Nashabaru said 17 local governments were affected including Dutse, the state capital.

The commissioner added that 89 cases were reported to hospitals from January till date, adding that the state Ministry of Health had forwarded a request for more vaccines to the Federal Ministry of Health. He noted that the state had only 7, 300 doses when the outbreak began, saying the Federal Government assisted with 300, 000 doses last week.

"Of course, we have faced shortage of vaccines. We have on ground only 10 per cent of our requirement. The state needs at least three million doses," he said. Dr. Nashabaru stated further that even though the situation was under control, the state was proposing a special preparation to face the disease.

Dr. Nashabaru added that Gumel, Kafin-Hausa, Babura, Yankwashi and Dutse were the most affected. He pointed out that Gumel topped the list with six deaths.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://www.businessdayonline.com/in...tle-with-a-dreaded-adversary&catid=126:health

Meningitis outbreaks: Sustaining battle with a dreaded adversary
Friday, 05 March 2010 01:08 Alexander Chiejina

Thanks to its location on the west coast of Africa, which is right in the centre of the African meningitis belt, the incidence of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) is on the high side in Nigeria. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that the hot and arid parts of the country aid the spread of the disease.

Since epidemic outbreaks usually peak between late February and April, experts insist there is the need for the spread of the disease to be mitigated, especially because it is endemic in this part of the world.

Bola Adebiyi, chief medical director, Alimosho General Hospital, Lagos, explained that CSM is an acute infectious disease affecting children and young adults, and is characterised by inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord, headache, vomiting, convulsions, stiff neck, light sensitivity and purpuric eruptions.

One of the biggest problems with meningitis, in his estimation, is that it can develop very quickly: ?A child (or adult) can seem perfectly well and then, just a few hours later, be extremely ill with the disease. Another problem is that the symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other less serious infections; hence the need to visit the physician immediately one develops any sign of fever is imperative.?

It would be recalled that the last major meningitis outbreak in Nigeria was in 1996 when over 100, 000 suspected cases were reported. Last year, the country recorded more than 40,000 cases of the disease, far less than what experts earlier anticipated.

In 2009, the Federal Ministry of Health was able to check the disease through the constitution of a National Emergency Response and Preparedness Team by the Minister of Health, supply of vaccines which were rolled out through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and distribution of drugs for treatment of cases all over the country, especially in the most vulnerable regions of Bauchi, Jigawa, etc. Now that an epidemic is imminent, there is therefore the need to nip whatever may trigger the spread of the disease in the bud.

Meanwhile, reports from the Federal Ministry of Heath reveal that this year, the CSM epidemic seems to have been blunted following a total of 148 cases recorded in week 8.

However, most of the cases were serotype A, with only 2 W135 cases recorded in Bauchi State. That notwithstanding, the Federal Ministry of Health, through the NPHCDA, released more than 370,000 doses of potent CSM A+C vaccines to the affected states (Bauchi -71,170 vaccines in 14 LGAs and Jigawa-300, 000 vaccines in 16 LGAs) as a way of stemming the tide of the disease.

To ensure that the trend is sustained, Adebiyi advised that proactive steps which can be taken in anticipation of another CSM outbreak in 2010 include the establishment of a strategic CSM vaccine stockpile that is adequate for reactive immunisation.

?Also, people need to minimise contact with infected persons; treat patients with facemasks, gloves, distribute drugs to the northern part of the country and consult any physician for medical advice in the case of sign of fever,? the chief medical director added.

On the part of the Ministry of Health, though, public health enlightenment campaigns using all media channels need to be stepped up. Moreover, there is a need to ensure adequate supply of the diagnostic and therapeutic agents to affected states; organise refresher training for state teams from all high-risk states, train medical staff on supportive supervision for the CSM epidemic, among others.

Medical experts add that Nigerians should take note of and quickly report outbreaks within their neighbourhoods to the Federal Ministry of Health, or any primary, secondary and tertiary health institution so that appropriate action can be speedily taken.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201003050258.html

Nigeria: Meningitis Claims Two in Sokoto

Rakiya A.Muhammad

5 March 2010

Sokoto ? An outbreak of Meningitis has claimed two lives in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State Five local government areas in the state including Wamakko, Kware, Gwadabawa, Sokoto South and Gudu are said to be affected by the outbreak.

The State Commissioner for Health Dr Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori confirmed the incident.

He said Wamakko Local Government Area had the highest number of 22 people infected.

He however assured that the Ministry of Health had procured adequate vaccines to curtail the spread of the disease and adopted proactive measures to ensure adequate distribution to all parts of the s

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/charity-news/more-than-150-die-in-nigeria-meningitis-outbreak

More than 150 die in Nigeria meningitis outbreak
Mar 29, 2010 03:31 PM


Some 156 people have died of meningitis in the past week alone in Nigeria and 1,500 are infected, said the National Emergency Management Agency. A third of the deaths were in the north east, which includes Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Taraba states.

Last year, about 400 people reportedly died in the country after being infected with the deadly disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that by the end of February last year, it had recorded 8, 423 cases with 1, 181 deaths. Over the years, the government has been criticised as being slow to respond. But after a recent alert in neighbouring Chad and in Burkina Faso, Nigeria?s health authorities are hoping to have prevented a major outbreak in the country. Northern states were put on high alert after a meningitis outbreak in neighbouring Niger, which, according to WHO, killed 17 people and infected 382 in January.

The Federal Ministry of Health said it had already sent out 370,000 doses of meningitis vaccines, and promised to make sure medics were equipped with enough resources to diagnose and treat the disease, Nigerian newspaper, Punch reported...

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5553346-147/meningitis_kills_13_in_kano_.csp

Meningitis kills 13 in Kano
BY EDWIN OLOFU
April 12, 2010 01:35AM


No fewer than 13 persons have been killed by cerebrospinal meningitis in Kano during the ongoing dry season, Kano State Commissioner of Health, Aishatu Kiru, said at the weekend.

Mrs. Kiru, who spoke in Kano during the ministerial briefing organised by ministry of information, said over two hundred people have also been affected by the illness in different local government areas of the state.

The state ministry of health has, however, embarked on massive vaccination to overcome the outbreak of meningitis in the state.

The commissioner said the awareness created, and the drugs provided by the state government, have helped in the reduction of the number of possible deaths from the meningitis infection.

Mrs. Kiru cautioned the public not to sleep in places without adequate ventilation.

?Instead, we advise people to stay in an open space where there is enough air ventilation,? she said, adding that this would help in eradicating the spread of the disease.

She explained that the state ministry of health has achieved a lot in the area of ensuring the safety of people?s health, provision of drugs, working materials, and enough bed spaces in hospitals.

Strengthened manpower

Mrs. Kiru disclosed that over 100 students from the state will undergo medical studies in foreign countries, as part of a deliberate effort to add more medical doctors to the state?s hospitals.

The state official also explained that over 5,000 personnel have been employed in different cadre of the health services in the state, while the government has also provided them all with necessary equipment, to enable them carry out their respective duties efficiently.

50 cases of meningitis had, last month, been reported across 18 local government areas in the state. The affected local government areas were Nassarawa, Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Kura, Kumbotso, Fagge, Wudil, Gezawa, Ajingi, Madobi and Dala. Others include Bichi, Doguwa, Minjibir, Dawakin Tofa, Dawakin Kudu, Tofa and Bagwai.

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=122487

Nigeria-Meningitis-Deaths


Meningitis spreads across several states in Nigeria


APA, Abuja (Nigeria) As intense heat continues to ravage Nigeria, more states have recorded deaths caused by heat-related diseases such as meningitis and measles with the Northern State of Kaduna recording four such deaths in two weeks.

Cross River State in Southern Nigeria on Saturday confirmed the death of one person and nine others infected by cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM), a disease not common within the area.

The Acting State Commissioner for Health for Kaduna, Mr Mohammed Sani-Sidi, said also that 2,100 reported cases had been successfully treated by a ?rapid response team? set up by the state government.

According to him, cases were recorded in 15 out of the 23 local government areas of the state.

He, however, said that 130,000 doses of vaccines have been collected from the federal government and other donor agencies to complement the effort being made by the state government in arresting the situation.

Sani-Sidi also appealed to residents to report any suspicious outbreak of ?preventable communicable diseases? to the nearest health facility to halt the epidemic.

Casualties of CSM have also been reported in the far north such as Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The Cross River State government said on Saturday that CSM had killed one person while nine others had been admitted in at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Dr Edet Ikpi, the Commissioner for Health, said so far ?Only one person died and nine cases have been registered in the state.?

MM/daj/APA
2010-04-17

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201005250173.html

Nigeria: Meningitis Claims Five in Kaduna
24 May 2010


No fewer than five persons died in April due to an outbreak of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis (CSM) in two local government areas of Kaduna State.

The acting Commissioner for Health, Malam Mohammed Sani-Sidi,said yesterday in Kaduna on Monday that three persons died in Ikara council while another two died in Kubau council.

Sani-Sidi, who said that the victims were below 40 years and that they included four males and one female.

NAN reports that the state lost 12 persons between January and March. He, however, said that no death was recorded in May because the government had contained the spread of the disease.

The commissioner attributed the success to the unprecedented support of the people, especially traditional rulers, religious leaders, development partners and NGOs.

He said public enlightenment campaigns through traditional institutions, faith-based civil society groups, as well as the media, would be intensified.

Sani-Sidi said the state's Rapid Response Team had treated more than 2,100 cases in 15 local government areas.

He said the cases were recorded in Kaduna North, Giwa, Igabi, Kudan, Birnin Gwari, Kagarko, Kubau, Kauru, Ikara, Jema'a, Lere, Makarfi, Sanga, Kajuru and Chikun council areas.

The commissioner also said that 130,000 doses of vaccines donated by the Federal Government and other donor agencies were being used to contain the situation.

He appealed to residents to report any outbreak to the nearest health facility to halt the epidemic. NAN

 

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Re: Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak

Source: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/csnvf_csm-kills-7-in-zamfara-official-969415.html


CSM Kills 7 in Zamfara - Official
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:18:47 EDT
Jun 07, 2010 (Leadership/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --

The Zamfara Government said yesterday that no fewer than seven persons were killed by suspected outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) between January and May this year.

Dr Keku Nahuche, the state's Director of Public health, made the announcement in Gusau at a public lecture on poor environmental sanitation and health problems.

The lecture was organised by the Environmental Action Group on the 2010 World Environmental Day...