Persons Between 5 to 14 Age Grade Died of Meningitis in a Week- NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, (NCDC) on Sunday revealed that persons within the age grade of 5 to 14 years hit by Meningitis have died.
According to the agency, the incident claimed 23 lives in total and occurred between March 27 and April 2, 2023.
The center cited in its epidemiological report on Sunday that both Jigawa and Yobe states recorded the deaths in the ratio of 6 to 17 respectively.
Also, the report added that between October 2022 and April 2, 2023, a total of 235 confirmed cases were reported, with 118 deaths from 22 states and 79 local government areas.
“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.
In all, males 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 disease, which is said to be the infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord is capable of affecting people of any age.
But, according to reports, the disease mainly affects babies, preschool 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.
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