33 Die From The 123 Cases Of Meningitis In Niger

The Niger State Ministry of Health has disclosed that 33 deaths have occurred from the 123 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis so far recorded in the state.

Mortalities from the outbreak rose from the initial 16 to 33 death within two months, the Director of Public Health, Malam Mohammed Usman, told newsmen in Minna yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Health, Dr Mustapha Jibril, the director said the state had witnessed significant spread of the disease across 12 local government areas from the initial four.

It would be recalled that 31 cases of the disease were as earlier reported in four local government areas including Magama, Kontagora, Rijau and Agwara, as at March 6.

The local government areas currently affected include Agwara, Rijau, Suleja, Bosso, Tafa, MarigaLapai, Gurara, Mashegu, Paikoro and Kotangora with Magama recording the highest of 70 and 31 deaths.

He said the mortality rate was more among females and children, adding that the high casualty was as a result of reluctance to seek medical attention as soon as the symptoms developed, while blaming it on witchcraft.

He said the situation was being complicated with cases from states which have borders with Niger, especially Zamfara.

The director noted that the state had stepped up the sensitization drive with the deployment of trained disease and surveillance officers across the 25 local government areas.

According to him, more than N39m has so been spent on drugs and logistics by the state government even as it has set up emergency operation centres to coordinate response and curtail further spread.