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Tag: Meningitis

  • Lassa fever, meningitis kill 366 in 24 States – NCDC

    Lassa fever, meningitis kill 366 in 24 States – NCDC

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a total of 366 deaths from Lassa fever and meningitis in 24 states of the federation.

    The NCDC via its official website on Friday, highlighted the continued public health challenge posed by these diseases.

    From Jan. 1 to May 18, the centre confirmed 733 cases of Lassa fever from 5,118 suspected infections across 18 states and 95 local government areas.

    Within the same period, it said it recorded 141 Lassa fever-related deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 19.2 per cent.

    The NCDC said that in week 20 alone, new infections jumped from three to 13 cases in Edo, Ondo, and Benue.

    “The case fatality rate stands at 19.2 per cent slightly higher than 18.3 per cent in 2024, indicating that one in five people infected is dying, inspite of  coordinated national efforts,” the NCDC warned.

    It said that the hotspot states for Lassa fever include Ondo 30 per cent Bauchi (25%), and Edo 17 per cent which together account for 72 per cent of all confirmed cases.

    The centre said that the disease was hitting young adults hardest, particularly those aged 21 to 30 years, with a nearly equal male-to-female ratio.

    It noted that no new healthcare worker infections were reported in the past week, but highlighted a surge in cases and called for heightened vigilance.

    The agency said that a multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate response efforts nationwide.

    On the meningitis front, the centre said the figures were even more alarming.

    The NCDC said that from 2,911 suspected cases, 192 have been confirmed and 225 lives lost, translating to a case fatality rate of 7.7 per cent.

    The agency said that children aged five to 14 were the most affected, with males accounting for 60 per cent of all reported infections.

    It said that the outbreak has reached 24 states and 173 LGAs, with 10 northern states—including Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, and Jigawa—reporting 97 per cent of suspected cases.

    In response, the NCDC has activated a national Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate interventions in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and development partners.

    It said that regular high-level meetings with affected states were ongoing to streamline containment strategies.

    “We are providing continuous technical support to high-burden states and reinforcing outbreak preparedness across the country,” the NCDC said.

    Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats.

    It can also spread from person to person through bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or infected medical equipment.

    Symptoms include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from body openings.

  • Suspected Meningitis outbreak kills 38 in Jigawa

    Suspected Meningitis outbreak kills 38 in Jigawa

    No fewer than 38 persons have died of suspected Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in Jigawa, an official, have confirmed.

    Dr Salisu Muazu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, told newsmen in Dutse on Thursday that the state recorded a total of 398 suspected cases  between October 2022 to date.

    Muazu said the disease was detected in 56 political wards across seven local government areas of the state that boarder Niger Republic.

    He said the outbreak was initially from the neighbouring Niger Republic, and later spread to the border communities in the state, through trans border activities.

    The permanent secretary listed the affected areas to include Babura, Maigatari, Suletankarkar, Birniwa, Gumel, Gwiwa and Yankwashi.

    “This is in spite of the fact that last year, we conducted immunisation against this disease across the state.

    “But after getting the report of the outbreak, we took the samples for test in the laboratory, and we discovered it was a strange disease.

    “It is not a normal CSM disease that we commonly know which is the type A, this one, we discovered that it is bacteria, known as type B.

    “And immediately after results were obtained, the state government, through the ministry, swung into action, by offering free treatment, control and prevention measures in the affected areas,” he said

    Muazu further stated that the ministry had established an isolation centre at Gumel General Hospital, to which affected persons are being referred to for treatment and observation.

    He, however, stressed that the situation had been brought under control, as cases are being sporadically recorded.

    “As of now, we record only one to two cases per day. In fact there are some days that passed without recording a single case, as the last was recorded on Saturday,” he said.

    The permanent secretary commended the UNICEF, WHO and NCDC for thier support to the ministry in tackling the outbreak.

  • Meningitis: NCDC deploys rapid response team to Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina

    Meningitis: NCDC deploys rapid response team to Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has deployed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to Jigawa, Yobe and Katsina State.

    Dr Pricilla Ibekwe, Head of Special Projects and Partnerships Unit at NCDC, said this on Monday in Abuja, during a Ministerial bi-weekly meeting on the update of COVID-19 response and development in the country’s health sector.

    Ibekwe said the deployment of the RET, followed a notification by the State Government on rising cases of suspected Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) disease.

    Newsmen reports that CSM is an acute inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord.

    It is a very serious infection that can lead to death if left untreated.

    CSM remains a major public health challenge, affecting countries in the African meningitis belt, including 25 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria.

    Ibekwe said that the preliminary reports were of 117 suspected and 12 confirmed cases, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 27 per cent from EPI Week 49 2022 and EPI Week II of 2023.

    “We have also provided commodities.

    “On the other hand, due to the proximity of Jigawa to Yobe and Katsina States, We have also deployed RRT members to Yobe and Katsina to assess, improve on the level of preparedness and to conduct active CSM case finding for early detection of cases already exist,” she said.

    Meanwhile, regarding the spread of CSM, she said Nigerians should avoid overcrowding and ensure adequate ventilation in the home.

    “Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or by blowing into the elbow when sneezing or coughing.

    “Wash your hands frequently especially after coughing or sneezing. Visit a health facility if you have a sudden high fever or neck stiffness for diagnosis and treatment,” she advised.

    She called on all health workers to practice universal care precautions at all times: i.e. wearing gloves while handling patients or providing care to an ill relative.

    “It is very important to report to the nearest health facility immediately if you experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above.

    “If you notice any member(s) of your family or neighbourhood with any of the listed signs or symptoms, kindly encourage them to report to the nearest health facility.,” she explained.

    She, however, said that early presentation to a health facility and treatment increases the chances of survival.

    Newsmen reports that large outbreaks of CSM usually occur during the dry season (i.e. November through May).

    The disease is contagious and can be transmitted through tiny droplets of respiratory secretions from an infected person, during close contact such as coughing or sneezing.

    The disease is more common among persons aged less than 15 years and deaths are higher among untreated cases.

    Signs and symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating, and convulsions. The major risk factors for infection include overcrowding and poor ventilation.

    During outbreaks, reactive vaccination campaigns can be used to prevent the spread of the disease.

  • Guitar god, Jeff Beck dies at age 78 after meningitis battle

    Guitar god, Jeff Beck dies at age 78 after meningitis battle

    English rock legend and guitar virtuoso, Jeff Beck, has died at the age of 78, in a hospital on Tuesday following a battle with meningitis, his management said.

    Tributes have described him as an “outstanding iconic, genius guitar player” and a “master”.

    Sir Rod Stewart, who sung in the Jeff Beck Group with him, wrote: “He was one of the few guitarists that when playing live would actually listen to me sing and respond. Jeff, you were the greatest, my man. Thank you for everything. RIP.”

    Guitar god, Jeff Beck dies at age 78 after meningitis battle

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Beck shot to fame in the 1960s with The Yardbirds playing alongside a young Jimmy Page, later of Led Zeppelin, before carving out a career of his own.

    Considered one of the most influential guitarists of his generation, Beck’s screaming solos earned him the moniker “the guitarist’s guitarist”.

    But he was best known for the 1967 hit “Hi Ho Silver Lining”, featuring Rod Stewart, which went to number 14 in the UK charts that year.

    Guitar god, Jeff Beck dies at age 78 after meningitis battle

    It was later adapted as a matchday chant by Aston Villa, Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday.

    Indicted into Rock’s Hall of Fame twice, Beck’s music career spanned an astonishing 50 years.

    Forming The Jeff Beck Group in 1967, the guitarist created an alliance of rock royalty boasting Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and drum icon Cosy Powell as members.

    He would go on to perform with Eric Clapton and blues guitar god Stevie Ray Vaughan.

    Guitar god, Jeff Beck dies at age 78 after meningitis battle

    Beck was so talented that it was rumoured in 2010 he had insured each of his hallowed fingers for £700,000.

    In 2015, Rolling Stone placed the virtuoso strummer No.5 on a list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists” to ever live.

    And last year, the trailblazing rocker toured the UK with Johnny Depp – releasing the single “Isolation” with the actor.

    He was last pictured in October alongside Depp following an appearance on New York’s SiriusXM channel.

    Born Geoffrey Arnold Beck in Wallington, Surrey, in 1944, the rock star started singing in school choirs before breaking into the blues scene.

    As a teenager, he learned to play on a borrowed guitar and once tried to make his own by bolting a cigar box to a fence post.

    He was quickly regarded for his technical skill and versatile playing which would see him explore everything from hard rock to jazz.

    Beck married Sandra in 2005 and had lived in Wadhurst, East Sussex, until his death.

    Guitar god, Jeff Beck dies at age 78 after meningitis battle

    ‘YOU WERE THE GREATEST, MY MAN’
    Rod Stewart wrote online: “Jeff Beck was on another planet. He took me and Ronnie Wood to the USA in the late 60s in his band the Jeff Beck Group and we haven’t looked back since.

    “He was one of the few guitarists that when playing live would actually listen to me sing and respond. Jeff, you were the greatest, my man . Thank you for everything. RIP.”

    Rolling Stones‘ Ronnie Wood said: “Now Jeff has gone, I feel like one of my band of brothers has left this world, and I’m going to dearly miss him.

    “I’m sending much sympathy to Sandra, his family, and all who loved him. I want to thank him for all our early days together in Jeff Beck Group, conquering America.”

    Rock band The Kinks‘ founding member Dave Davies wrote: “I’m heartbroken. He looked in fine shape to me. Playing great he was in great shape. I’m shocked and bewildered.

    “Deepest sympathy to his wife friends close ones. I’m bewildered, Jeff Beck, it don’t make sense, I don’t get it. He was a good friend and a great guitar player.”

    ‘Prince of Darkness‘ Ozzy Osbourne added: “I can’t express how saddened I am to hear of Jeff Beck’s passing.

    “What a terrible loss for his family, friends & his many fans. It was such an honor to have known Jeff & an incredible honor to have had him play on my most recent album, PatientNumber9. Long live Jeff Beck.”

    Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp wrote: “An absolute god of guitar. No one can replace him.

    “From rock to soul to jazz he was the greatest player in all genres. Unique. Such awful news but thank you Jeff for all you gave us.”

    Black Sabbath, founding member and guitarist Tony Iommi said: “I was totally shocked to hear the very sad news of Jeff Beck’s passing. Jeff was such a nice person and an outstanding iconic, genius guitar player – there will never be another Jeff Beck. His playing was very special & distinctively brilliant! He will be missed.”

    Rock band Kiss‘ frontman Paul Stanley added: “WOW. What awful news. Jeff Beck, one of the all time guitar masters has died. From The Yardbirds and The Jeff Beck Group on, he blazed a trail impossible to follow. Play on now and forever.”

    Piers Morgan called him “one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”

  • Meningitis kills four in Niger

    Meningitis kills four in Niger

    The Niger State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril, said on Wednesday that four people have died of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis (CSM) “Serotype C” in the state.

    He said 31 cases were reported and nine confirmed.

    Briefing journalists in his office in Minna, the commissioner said the four deaths were recorded in Magama local government area of the state.

    He said Magama local government area had 27 cases while Katcha LGA had four.

    He added that the samples collected tested positive for Serotype C.

  • Beware! Meningitis may soon break out again, Adewole warns Nigerians

    Beware! Meningitis may soon break out again, Adewole warns Nigerians

    The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has appealed to Nigerians to be on the look out for suspected cases of outbreak of meningitis, saying the country is already approaching its season.

    Professor Adewole made this appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State over the weekend while speaking with the members of Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, on some of his ministry’s preparedness to curtail any reported outbreak of CSM.

    The Minister said the alert is important because the country has no money to vaccinate all Nigerians.

    He said it is known that meningitis is seasonal and this is the season, “that is why we are saying Nigerians should be on the lookout for it. It is so easy to treat. The vaccine is expensive. When a case is detected we have an epidemic threshold then we quickly vaccinate people in the Local Governments, that is the best we can do for now. When we are more prosperous then we can vaccinate everybody.”

    Prof Adewole added that the conjugate vaccine will protect everybody for 10 years, the polyvalent vaccine for three years, as he added that for now both are expensive.

    “The conjugate is about $20 a vial, while the polyvalent is $3 a vial, so you can calculate what we need for the Nigeria population, and that is for just the vaccine, not including the syringes and other consumables, so our best bet is to alert Nigerians that this is the season for meningitis and they should beware. We need to contain it,” he noted.

    The Minister retriaiated that anywhere there is an outbreak of CSM, the system is weak, as he explained that Kaduna state had an outbreak but contained it.

    “And there was another outbreak in Zamfara and because the system was weak, it killed many people. Meningitis is seasonal and this is the season and we are alerting Nigerians. The terrible outbreak we had in 2017 was because it was on for three months before we got to know.

    ” All of us know what meningitis is, it requires a lumbar puncture, look at the fluid cerebrospinal fluid, when you check and it is milky, then you know there is infection and you can culture it and begin treatment.

    “It is so easy to treat because the causative organism is responsive to antibiotics, but when we do not know that it is meningitis, we could treat malaria for three to five days, typhoid for one week then by the time we get to know, it would have spread.

    “And it spreads like wildfire. As we attend to patients, 10 people can surround the infected person and that one patient would infect six or seven persons and it spreads like that. So this is the season to alert people to look out and promptly report any suspicion to nearest health facility.”

    “Prompt reporting by people will assist the government to curtail further spread, and even deaths, because, “The government does not have enough money to vaccinate the whole country. The meningococcal vaccine is expensive and what we are trying to do case detection. Once we have a case to treat, it causes what we call an epidemic and we can quickly do its prevention, so help us alert Nigerians that this is the season and we need to curtail it,” the minister said.

     

  • Meningitis: FG sets up committee to monitor 2017 Hajj pilgrims

    Meningitis: FG sets up committee to monitor 2017 Hajj pilgrims

    The Federal Government has approved the deployment of surveillance officers as part of the medical mission to the 2017 Hajj pilgrimage.

    Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole made the disclosure during a meeting​ with officials of​ National Hajj Commission of Nigeria​, NAHCON.​

    ​He explained that the deployment was aimed at detecting and controlling any disease among the participants of the annual religious activity​, in​ the face of global​ ​outbreaks.

    “We are looking at setting up a surveillance team to monitor diseases of public health concern, especially meningitis, cholera and measles,” he said.

    The minister noted that agents trained by the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP) would constitute the surveillance team, which will be embedded with the medical team.

    ​Adewole announced that port health officials would be trained to better manage the demands of the pilgrims and to ensure ethical conduct in the discharge of their activities.

    ​Meanwhile, government will setup dedicated communication channels including Telephone helpline and Social Media support to provide real-time assistance on any medical issue related to the Hajj.

    ​NAHCON ​Executive Secretary​, ​Abba Yakubu said the agency was currently reforming the medical mission, adding that only local drug manufacturers would be patronized.

  • Meningitis kills 8 in Katsina

    Meningitis kills 8 in Katsina

    Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) has killed not less than eight people at Tsabu village in Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State, an official has said.

    Alhaji Nasiru Mani, the Director of Primary Health Care of the council, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mai’adua on Thursday.

    Mani said the outbreak of the deadly disease was discovered in the last two days following a report from the community.

    He said that 16 cases were recorded out of which eight people lost their lives.

    According to him, the remaining patients have been admitted at the Mai’adua and Daura general hospitals for proper medical attention.

    “We (LGC) had since deployed a surveillance team to the area to address the situation,’’ said the director.

    He said the combined efforts of state and local government medical teams have succeeded in addressing the problem.

    “I called on our people to avail themselves for the ongoing vaccination against such diseases to curb further spread of the disease.

    “We have designated centres at our rural clinics where people are being immunised or vaccinated against such diseases,” he said.

    Mani commended the role of Medicines San Frontiers (MSF) or doctors without borders for their efforts in addressing the outbreak.

    He called on the people of the area to adhere to the safety measures of sleeping inside ventilated rooms, houses and environs.

    Besides, the director advised residents to report suspicious cases and visit nearby health centres over any symptom.

  • Meningitis: Death toll rises to 813

    Meningitis: Death toll rises to 813

    The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, has revealed that more than 800 people have died from the meningitis outbreak in Nigeria.

    Adewole, however, insisted that the disease is now spreading more slowly.

    “As of yesterday (Tuesday), the number of deaths stood at 813,” he told reporters in Abuja after a cabinet meeting.

    “As of now, we are noticing a decline.

    “This is week 16. This is also expected because we are moving away from the active season. We are confident that in the next couple of weeks everything will be over.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the outbreak of meningitis C is concentrated in northern Nigeria, where a mass vaccination programme has begun to deal with the spread.

    Last week, the number of deaths was put at 745, with more than 8,000 suspected cases.

    Adewole also confirmed that the government was trying to create a joint venture with a local drug manufacturer, to produce vaccines in Nigeria itself.

  • Meningitis: Death toll rises to 745 in 8,057 cases – FG

    Meningitis: Death toll rises to 745 in 8,057 cases – FG

    The Federal Government, on Wednesday, confirmed that 745 persons had died in 8,057 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis across the country since the outbreak of the disease.

    The government however expressed its commitment to continuing to intensify efforts to stop the deaths and further spread of the disease in the worst-hit states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger.

    A statement by the Technical Assistant, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Lawal Bakare, said to increase awareness of the outbreak and coordinate response across states, the northern traditional rulers committee on primary health care held a meeting with the governors from the North.

    The meeting, which was held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies and international partners, focused on strategies to end the outbreak.

    According to Bakare: “As of April 17, 2017 (Monday), 8,057 suspected cases of meningitis had been reported across the country; 230 (3 per cent) were laboratory confirmed.

    “A total of 745 deaths (9.2 per cent) have been recorded.

    “Of the 8,057 cases, 7,519 (93 per cent of cases) have occurred in the five states that have reached outbreak levels for CSM serotype C.”

    According to him, during the meeting, state governors reaffirmed their commitment to immediate and concrete actions towards halting the outbreak, while traditional rulers also said they were ready to continue to raise awareness in their and jurisdictions.

    He said, “At the national level and in the affected states, activities aimed at driving information in the grassroots, including advocacy meetings with religious leaders, civil society organisations, health professionals, entertainers and media organisations, continue.

    “The National Primary Health Care Development Agency successfully led vaccination in Zamfara and in Katsina states targeting persons between ages two and 29 years in the priority Local Government Aeas in both states.

    “Preparations are at advanced stages for the next round of vaccination in priority wards and local government areas in Sokoto State.”

    The CSM National Emergency Operations Centre at the NCDC, Bakare said, had been leading the national coordination and support for the outbreak response in affected states.

    The Director-General, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, also emphasised the need to ensure that citizens were continuously engaged on the response.

    “The NCDC will continue to engage proactively through all our channels of communication online and offline. We will also continue to work with our health reporters and journalists across the country to ensure easy reporting of facts,” he emphasised.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said, on Wednesday, that investigations had commenced into the theft of meningitis vaccines in some states.

    “We are investigating the allegations that vaccines have been disappearing because of theft. We have nothing to substantiate it. We have heard of it; so far, nobody has been able to substantiate it, but we are investigating it.

    “What we are worried about is for Nigerians not to go and pick vaccines from any shop because they might sell fake vaccines to them; that is my fear. It is available and so, nobody should go and buy fake vaccines,” the minister stated.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Adewole had at last week Tuesday said the Federal Government needs more than one billion dollars for vaccines to eradicate meningitis epidemic in the five most affected states in the Northern region.