Meningitis Outbreak Kills 282 In FCT, Zamfara, Other

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has raised the alarm over the outbreak of Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), confirming that 282 deaths have been recorded in five states. The outbreaks were recorded in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Niger states. Already, the outbreak has spread to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja where meningitis has killed five people.

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. This inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Until recently, these CSM outbreaks were caused mostly by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A (NmA).

These outbreaks occur in the dry season, due to its low humidity and dusty conditions and usually ends with the onset of the rainy season. Zamfara has the highest number of confirmed cases of 44, followed by Katsina with 32, Sokoto 19, Kebbi 10 and Niger 4 confirmed cases.

The FCT Primary Health Care Development Board yesterday confirmed the death of one person after the board had recorded four deaths on Tuesday in Durumi area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

According to the Executive Secretary of the FCT board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, “The four suspected cases we have were all in Durumi I and II in AMAC while one confirmed case is that of a child that just happened on 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. “We have so far immunised all residents of Durumi that are within the ages of one year and 29 years and we cordoned off Dakwa area yesterday for a similar vaccination,” he said.

According to him, the board had so far immunised 65,000 residents as against 70,000 targeted for vaccination against meningitis in FCT. Also, suspected cases of CSM have been reported in Fika and Nguru Local Government Areas of Yobe State. Dr. Bello Kawuwa, the state Commissioner for Health, confirmed this yesterday, saying that the cases are under investigation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has joined the state medical team to check the situation.

In Zamfara, residents of Gusau have appealed for government help to prevent the disease. Hajiya Salamatu Isa, a school teacher in Zamfara State, complained about how her four year-old daughter died of meningitis, which she said was due to lack of vaccine.

She said that the disease became rampant in February and that she tried her best to immunize all the members of her family, but due to non-availability of the vaccine, she could not. The inadequacy of vaccines, she said, killed several people, including her daughter. Mallam Bello Aliyu, a civil servant, said that the rate at which meningitis has been killing both young and adult in Zamfara State was worrisome.

Aliyu said that his neighbour, a 35-year-old man recently died of meningitis and some of his family members had been infected as well. Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, said that there is an inter-agency response supporting the states to contain the outbreak through the primary mode of vaccination. 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. 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 told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

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.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Government has treated no fewer than 10,000 meningitis and malaria patients since March 20 following the high alert in the state health sector.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, said that the patients were mostly treated in the seven worst hit local government areas of Ra- bah, Kebbe, Tureta, Gada, Dange/Shuni, Wamakko and Bodinga. The state government has purchased assorted drugs, consumables and other logistics, to curb the meningitis epidemic in the state in the last 10 days. Kakale also warned the general public to discountenance traditional beliefs of witchcraft as causes of febrile illness and neck stiffness, saying they are signs and symptoms of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern about rising cases of deaths and ill-health following the outbreak of meningitis in some parts of the country.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Oti Ovrawah, in a statement, said that relevant stakeholders must act fast to avoid further loss of lives to meningitis. Ovrawah noted that steps must be taken urgently to contain the outbreak. She emphasised that the Federal Ministry of Health and its counterparts in the states should, as a matter of urgency, take immediate and proactive steps through vaccination to protect citizens.