Meningitis outbreak hits Nigeria as 6 more cases confirmed

Barely 24 hours after an outbreak cerebrospinal meningitis was reported in Potiskum, Yobe, North Central Nigeria, other reported cases broke in Bauchi, same region in the country after it was announced that six cases of the disease was confirmed.

The Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Sambohas, made this disclosure on Thursday.

The Commissioner stated this during an update on meningitis in neighboring Yobe state.

“Yes, We have CSM, we have already about six confirmed cases across the state” he said

What is Cerebrospinal meningitis?

Cerebrospinal meningitis, also known as bacterial meningitis, is a serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

It is caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and spreading to the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of cerebrospinal meningitis include severe headache, fever, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light.

It is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment with antibiotics.

If left untreated, cerebrospinal meningitis can lead to serious complications such as brain damage, hearing loss, and death

What are the Governments doing about it?

Meanwhile, Bauchi State Government has assured that it has taken proactive measures to curtail the disease in the state.

The measures were particularly stressed in LGAs in Northern part of the state that are sharing border with Yobe state including Gamawa, Dambam, Zaki, Katagum and other Itas/Gadau.

Checks at the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA) indicated that already, proactive measures have been put in place around the LGAs and other border communities across the state.

An official of the Agency, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that already there is outbreak of the meningitis disease in some LGAs but said that he has no authority to make such declaration.

According to him, it is only the Ministry of Health after briefing the Governor and other relevant partners that can pronounce an outbreak of any disease.

He however said that personnel from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency are already in the state for surveillance and necessary precautionary steps to ensure that the meningitis outbreak is curtailed.

The official added that part of the proactive approach is contact tracing within the communities so that any victim can be treated and isolated for proper monitoring and evaluation.

All efforts to get reaction from the Ministry of Health proved abortive as the Commissioner, Dr Adamu Sambo did not pick up the phone when his number was called several times by DDM correspondent.

He also did not respond to SMS sent to his mobile number as of the time of filling this report.

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