NIGER State Government has confirmed the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) with laboratory tests confirming 31 cases and four deaths in some local government areas of the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Mustapha Jibril, disclosed this at a news conference in Minna.

He said the cases and deaths recorded so far remained confined to Magama and Katcha local government areas of the state.

He added that Niger recorded 123 cases of the disease with 33 deaths across 12 local government areas in 2017 with Magama having the highest number of 31 deaths.

Jibril warned that there could be possibility of more outbreak and higher mortality rate as the hot weather condition became intensified.

He said that in response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health activated response mechanisms across the 25 local government areas of the state, noting that “we are working closely with World Health Organisation (WHO) UNICEF, Doctors without Borders and other partners in tackling the menace.”

The commissioner disclosed that surveillance had increased, including active case search across wards within the 25 local government areas of the state.

According to him, the first set of positive samples has been taken to National Centre for Disease Control laboratory in Abuja for higher level analysis.

He explained that Minna General Hospital had been designated as referral health facility for treatment of cases in the state.

He urged the people to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, as well as avoid overcrowded environment.

He stressed the need for good ventilation in homes and prompt reporting of suspected case.

– Feb.  22, 2018 @ 04:45 GMT |