Abuja – The Nigeria Centre Disease Control (NCDC) says 23 persons died from Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) within one week in some parts of the country.
It said the deaths occured between March 27 and April 2, 2023.
The NCDC in its epidemiological report obtained on Sunday said six deaths were recorded in Jigawa State while 17 deaths were recorded in Yobe State.
It said 235 confirmed cases were reported between October, 2022 and April 2, 2023, out of which 118 deaths were recorded in 79 local governments spread across 22 states.
“The national multi-sectoral Cerebrospinal Meningitis Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to monitor response across states.
“As of April 2, 2023, a total of 1,479 suspected cases, including 118 deaths (Case Fatality Ratio, CFR 9.3 per cent), were reported from 22 states in 2022/2023 Cerebrospinal Meningitis seasons,”the report said.
It listed persons between ages 5 to 14 as the most hit age group.
“In all, bbmales were 57 per cent, females were 43 per cent.93 per cent of all cumulative cases were from five (5) states: Jigawa (1064 cases), Yobe (234 cases), Zamfara (36 cases), Bauchi (23 cases) and Adamawa (21 cases),” the report added.
The disease is said to be the infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
It is capable of affecting people of any age.
However,it is said , to mainly affects babies, pre-school children and young people.
Experts said its symptoms may develop over several hours or over a few days.
This, they added , could include sudden high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, nausea or vomiting, confusion or trouble concentrating, seizures, sleepiness or trouble waking, sensitivity to light, no appetite or thirst, and skin rash in some cases, such as in meningococcal meningitis.
The bacteria that cause meningitis are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers.
(Vanguard/vitalnewsngr.com)
