The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned that the number of cases of cerebral meningitis in the northern section of the country is rising at an alarming rate.
According to Daily Independent, health experts are warning that the current immunizations don’t entirely protect against the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strain, which is spreading quickly.
Reports say that children between the ages of one and fifteen are the most afflicted. Overcrowding and dry winds that happen at certain times of the year make it easier for the disease to spread, which is a major public health concern in northern states within Africa’s meningitis belt.
Dr. Jide Idris, who is in charge of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), said this yesterday in Abuja during the 14th Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting on the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
He was worried that the vaccine strains that were available didn’t entirely match the prevalent serogroup C strain. He said that vaccination was still vital, but that further techniques were needed to effectively control ongoing outbreaks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and national surveillance data show that meningitis is still a major public health problem in Nigeria, especially in the northern regions during the dry season.
Idris added that serogroup C, which had taken the position of serogroup A, was the main cause of outbreaks. Other strains like W, X, and Y, as well as bacteria, were responsible for less documented cases.
He stated that Nigeria was currently at a high risk for meningitis epidemics, which usually happen between December and April when the weather is dry and dusty, there are a lot of people, and the air isn’t circulating well.
Idris added that the agency has stepped up surveillance and response across the country. State-level laboratory testing was done, and efforts were still being made to increase the national laboratory’s ability to find and confirm instances.
He says that meningitis is a dangerous infection that affects the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It spreads through respiratory droplets when people are close together, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces.
He warned that the condition might get worse quickly and kill someone within hours if not addressed. He stressed that early diagnosis and quick antibiotic treatment greatly increased the chances of survival and lowered the risk of complications.
Idris told Nigerians to go to the doctor right away if they had symptoms like a sudden fever, a bad headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures, or being sensitive to light.
He warned that fever and headache during the dry season shouldn’t necessarily be thought of as malaria. Instead, individuals should get a professional diagnosis to prevent having to wait for treatment and other complications.
He said that children, young adults, and those who live in crowded places are at significant risk. He told institutions to make sure there is good ventilation and to report any suspected instances to health authorities very once.
He suggested avoiding crowded places, keeping the air flowing, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and not sharing utensils. He also encouraged people to be vaccinated.
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