The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM)

  • Meningitis: Expert calls for effective response strategies

    “The committee should be responsible for reviewing the antibiotic vulnerability of Neisseria meningitis serotypes in the country.

    “Such committee can then use current trend and data on antibiotic resistance to formulate appropriate prophylaxis and treatment by state, zones or the country as a whole,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that there has been an outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) across 16 states of the country since November 2016, of which a new strain of the disease called “stereotype C’’ had emerged.

    As at April 3, there were 2,524 suspected cases with 336 deaths recorded in 90 local government areas in the affected states.

    The states included Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Nasarawa , Jigawa, FCT, Gombe, Taraba , Yobe, Kano, Osun, Cross Rivers, Lagos and Plateau.

    Meningitis outbreaks peak in the dry season in certain states in the Northern region due to low humidity and dusty conditions and usually end as the rainy season approaches.

    The bacteria that cause it can be spread through exchange of saliva, which can occur during common activities such as kissing, sharing utensils and drinking glasses.

    The risk factors for meningitis also include living in close quarters such as dormitories, sneezing and coughing as well as smoking or being exposed to smoke.

    Also, particular lifestyle such as staying out late or irregular sleeping habits could put people at greater risk for meningitis, by weakening their immune system.

    Some common symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, confusion, sensitivity to light, headaches and vomiting.

    According to the WHO, even when the disease is diagnosed early and adequate treatment begins, five per cent to 10 per cent of patients die, typically within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

    Vaccination against the three types of bacteria that can cause meningitis still remains one of the most effective ways to be protected against certain types of bacterial meningitis, alongside avoiding the risk factors.

     

  • NCDC activates emergency operations centre

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in collaboration with other stakeholders has activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to manage the current outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in the country.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Dr Lawal Bakare, Communication Manager, NCDC, on Monday in Abuja.

    This brings the national response into an Incidence Management System (IMS), to ensure that all activities across the country will be managed using a clear command and control structure.

    Bakare said that with this new coordinating structure, the country will have a tight, multi-partner team of experts pulled from the most competent agencies focusing on outbreak control in Nigeria.

    He said that the head of emergency preparedness and response at the NCDC, Dr John Oladejo, would act as the Incident Manager of the response team.

    Bakare noted that the Incident Manager would report through the Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC to the Minister of Health.

    He added that with the new team structure, all CSM outbreak response activities would now be coordinated in one place.

    He said that a total of 500,000 doses of Meningitis `C’ vaccines have been distributed to some of the affected states for immediate outbreak response vaccination.

    The manager added that an additional 823,970 doses of Meningitis `C’ vaccines were been expected from the United Kingdom to support vaccination activities in other affected states.

    He explained that the EOC will support state-wide vaccination campaign which starts in Zamfara on April 5.

    He added that the team would also deploy and coordinate a robust national communication and social mobilisation campaign, focused on CSM prevention and control in rural and urban areas of affected states.

    “We are confident that we have turned the tide, and with increasing vaccination activities, expect a reduction in number of cases.

    “Importantly, lessons learned from this outbreak will help the country prepare for the future,’’ he said.

    The 2,997 suspected cases of CSM have been reported in 16 states as at April 3.

    Laboratory analyses have confirmed 146 cases of the figure with 336 deaths recorded.

     

    NAN

  • Buhari condoles with meningitis victims in Sokoto

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the families of the victims of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Sokoto State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disease has claimed about 328 lives in 16 states of the federation in the last four months.

    Fourteen states are severely affected in the Northern region with two states in the South.

    No fewer than 41 live have been confirmed lost to the epidemic in Sokoto between November 2016 and March ending, this year.

    This was made known on Monday by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of the state when he led a team on a condolence visit to areas affected by the outbreak at Danchadi village and surrounding areas in Bodinga Local Government Area of the state.

    “From the latest casualty figures from Sokoto state, up to 41 people were known to have died.

    “Our leader and President, Muhammadu Buhari, has asked me to condole with all of you over the outbreak of the disease in your localities.

    “He has also asked me to tell you that everything is being done to contain the outbreak and ensure it does not occur again.

    “Health officials have been deployed to affected areas and they have been working round the clock to ensure your safety.

    “We urge you to follow their instructions and at the same time cooperate with them as we tackle this challenge,” the governor said.

    According to Tambuwal, more than 700,000 people will be immunised by the state government against the Type ”C” strain of the virus in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    He said: “Immunisation of children against child-killer diseases like measles, yellow fever and others are being intensified.

    “This is even as officials from affected states are comparing notes to ensure coordinated efforts across borders.”

    The governor also commended officials of the Federal and State Ministries of Health as well as development partners, for their various efforts in tackling the challenge.

     

  • Gombe adopts proactive measures against Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM)

    The Gombe State Government says it has adopted proactive measures against the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM).

    Dr Kennedy Ishaya, the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday shortly after meeting with the state committee on Epidemic Rapid Response on health issues.

    Kennedy said the one of the measures introduced by the government was the vaccination of one to six year olds before the commencement of each rainy season. He said government would focus on that particular age group because they are the most vulnerable whenever an outbreak of disease occurred.

    The commissioner noted that with the rainy season fast approaching, there was usually CSM and other communicable disease outbreak.

    “Although we have not recorded any CSM case in Gombe state but we want to take precautions to curtail the problem in case it happens.

    “We have been receiving unconfirmed cases of CSM sporadically but they were treated even before their sample was taken for test.

    “Gombe people travel daily to the North West where cases of CSM were reported.

    “There are the likelihood of importing the case to Gombe hence the need to take preventive measures,” he said.

    “We want to make arrangements of adequate drugs ahead of time, we do not want fire brigade approach,” Kennedy said.

    The commissioner also said the state was considering the possibility of establishing a laboratory in Gombe, instead of taking samples to Lagos.

    He said the meeting focused on four health issues threatening human lives; namely, CSM, measles, Lassa fever and Polio.

    Kennedy advised residents against killing of cats “because they are a natural predator of rats”.

    “Stop killing cats, they are natural predator of rats, and we are all aware that rats cause Lassa fever,” he said.

    He added that the state government has secured about 200 ampoules of Lassa fever drugs in case of outbreak.

     

  • Meningitis: NCDC confirms 282 deaths in five states

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in five states with 282 deaths.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer of the centre, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Ihekweazu said that 1,966 suspected cases have been recorded while 109 have been confirmed since the outbreak of the disease in February in the country.

    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 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.

    However, Ihekweazu explained that a new strand of meningitis called “stereotype C” has emerged in place of the previous known type “stereotype A”, which has disappeared.

    He regretted that there was not yet commercially available vaccine for this new stereotype “C” meningitis.

    “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.

    “We continue to advocate for scientists and for the global community to really try and push to develop a vaccine for meningitis `C’, on the other hand all we can do is prevention,” he said.

    Ihekweazu said that prevention and early detection was key to combating the disease, 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.

    “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.

    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.

    The chief executive officer assured that the centre would work with state governments in the North West and North Central, where most cases were recorded, to ensure better preparation and avert similar outbreak next year.

     

  • Meningitis: NCDC confirms 282 deaths in five states

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in five states with 282 deaths.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer of the centre, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Ihekweazu said that 1,966 suspected cases have been recorded while 109 have been confirmed since the outbreak of the disease in February in the country.

    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 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.

    However, Ihekweazu explained that a new strand of meningitis called “stereotype C” has emerged in place of the previous known type “stereotype A”, which has disappeared.

    He regretted that there was not yet commercially available vaccine for this new stereotype “C” meningitis.

    “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.

    “We continue to advocate for scientists and for the global community to really try and push to develop a vaccine for meningitis ‘C’, on the other hand all we can do is prevention,” he said.

    Ihekweazu said that prevention and early detection was key to combating the disease, 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.

    “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.

    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.

    The chief executive officer assured that the centre would work with state governments in the North West and North Central, where most cases were recorded, to ensure better preparation and avert similar outbreak next year.

     

  • Meningitis kills seven in Sokoto State

    The death toll caused by the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM), in parts of Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State has now risen to seven, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The Chairman of the local government, Dr Abdullahi Gada, disclosed this in Gada on Friday, when he addressed newsmen who were on a fact-finding tour of the area.

    Gada said that the deaths were recorded between January, this year, to-date.

    He stated that the deaths were recorded out of the 77 reported cases during the period under review.

    According to the Chairman, “three deaths were recorded at the Wauru Primary Health centre, while four were recorded at the Gada General Hospital.

    “In all, the cases were recorded in Gada, Wauru, Kyadawa, Kaffe, Kaddi and Duka-maje, among others.”

    Gada further stated that the situation had now been brought under control as only ten persons were currently on admission at the Gada General Hospital.

    The council chairman, who is also a Medical Doctor, said that the local government had provided assorted emergency drugs worth about N 2 million, which were being distributed free to the patients.

    “We have also deployed medical teams across the area, while immunization services were bolstered.

    “The massive immunization exercise is focused on measles, tuberculosis, polio and the six child-killer diseases.

    “The state government also deserves commendation for dispatching additional medical teams, drugs and medicaments to the local government,” Gada said.

    The chairman appealed to residents of the area to continue to accept immunization, saying that “it helps to prevent other incoming illnesses”.

    Gada urged the state government to conduct statewide immunization exercises against measles and CSM.

    He also called on the Federal Government and development partners to assist in the statewide immunization exercise.

    Also commenting, the acting Principal Medical Officer of the Gada General Hospital, Dr Chinasa Onyemkpa, said: “The outbreak of meningitis in the area was caused by a new string of the disease.

    “The people of the area had developed immunity for the old string of the ailment and awareness is key.

    “The current problem was aggravated by some formidable factors like traditional beliefs, overpopulation, poor hygiene and congestion, among others.”

    Onyempka also stressed the need for the children to be fully immunized, saying that ”it protects them for ten years”.