The federal government has warned Nigerians about an increase in Cerebrospinal Meningitis infections in Jigawa state. It stated that preliminary reports indicated 117 suspected cases and 12 verified cases as of yesterday. The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetiba, stated at the bi-monthly Ministerial Press briefing organized by the Federal Ministry in Abuja that the Centre has sent a National Response Team to bolster Jigawa state’s response to the epidemic. He also stated that the state has received supplies to combat the sickness spread.
Dr. Prescilla Ibekwe, Director of Special Services at the NCDC, stated they are aware of an increase in suspected CSM cases in Jigawa state. Preliminary data show 117 suspected and 12 confirmed cases, with a CFR of 27% from epidemic weeks 49 and 2 of 2023. To assist Jigawa State’s response to the outbreak, the NCDC has dispatched a nationwide RRT. We also provided consumables. However, given to Jigawa’s proximity to Yobe and Katsina States, we have also deployed RRT personnel to Yobe and Katsina States to assess, refine, and perform active CSM case finding for early detection if instances already exist.
The centre has written to ensure necessary public health measures.
Due to this, the NCDC also provided updates on the spread of diphtheria, stating that the number of infections has been increasing across the country. It stated that an increase in Diphtheria, a deadly bacterial infection that affects an individual’s nose, throat, and sometimes skin, has been seen in the country, with attendant fatalities. He stated that Nigeria worked with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to organize a 5-day training course in Nigeria for laboratory scientists working in NCDC’s National Reference Laboratories and its lab network on improving laboratory detection of diphtheria (this was planned before cases were reported as part of preparedness).
In the same vein, the NCDC director stated that the Centre has written to all state Health Commissioners requesting that they implement prompt and required public health measures for the timely detection and response to diphtheria at the state level. The NCDC stated that it produced a public health alert, which is accessible on our website, to educate Nigerians on risk factors and offer guidance, including: It asked parents to verify that their children have had three doses of the pentavalent vaccination and are completely vaccinated against diphtheria.
Individuals with symptoms should isolate themselves and notify the LGA.
Individuals with diphtheria symptoms should isolate themselves and contact the LGA, DSNO, or NCDC via our toll-free number (6232). Diphtheria cases have been reported to the NCDC from Kano, Lagos, Yobe, and Osun States, according to the NCDC. It added that, in addition to clinically suspected cases, laboratory-confirmed cases had been reported, and that the NCDC was working with state Ministries of Health and partners to improve surveillance and response to the epidemic.
While providing an update on COVID-19 vaccination coverage, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), stated, “As of 20th January, 2023, Nigeria has fully vaccinated 65,176,784 (56.2%) eligible persons with the vaccine; while 77,070,988 (66.4%) eligible persons have taken at least one dose of the vaccine.” Shuaib, who was represented by Dr. Garba Bulama, stated that a total of 10,390,911 people received booster shots. He stated that the number of people obtaining booster shots was gradually increasing. According to Shuaib, 13 states have vaccinated at least 70% of their eligible population.
States that have participated in the Covid-19 vaccination.
Nasarawa, Jigawa, Kaduna, Osun, Kano, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Kwara, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe are among these states. Seven states (Zamfara, Imo, Oyo, Borno, Niger, Enugu, and Bauchi) and the federal capital territory have attained coverage rates ranging from 40% to 70%. Katsina, Cross River, Ogun, Abia, Anambra, Benue, Edo, Lagos, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Kogi, Rivers, and Ondo are among the remaining 16 low-performing states with less than 40% coverage, according to him.
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The case of Meningitis in Jigawa state – The FG has alerted Nigerians on the rising cases of meningitis in Jigawa. – Express your point of view.
This disease should quickly be checked. It is important we quickly stop it from spreading in Jigawa state. If not it will become irresistible to stop.
It is to the people of Nigeria’s benefit that their federal government has issued a warning concerning an uptick in cases of cerebrospinal meningitis.
They are aware that there has been an increase in possible instances of CSM in the state of Jigawa.
The state has received resources to counteract the spread of the illness, which is a positive development for us
Its very wonderful that the state has been provided with supplies to counteract the spread of the illness.
The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention also issued an update on the spread of diphtheria, indicating that the number of cases has been rising all over the country.
It is very unfortunate that the people of Nigeria are still experiencing this type of disease.The federal government and the World Health Organisation are spending billions of Naira for campaigns and sensitization for people to be immunise against such diseases but it look as if all the effort is almost in vain.
Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children have received all necessary vaccinations, including three doses of the pentavalent vaccine and a full course of diphtheria immunization.
It is a very sad state of affairs that people in Nigeria are still suffering from this kind of illness. T
Its a good one the FG issued a warning and plans for proper sensitization concerning the spread of the disease. I’m glad the state has been provided with supplies to counteract the spread of the disease.
The case of Meningitis in Jigawa state. more awareness should be created to the public about the meningitis disease. Government need to support the health workers on this issue
Several factors will be responsible for the resurfacing of Meningitis case in Jigawa state which be high rate of illiteracy, impoverish state of Jigawa and lack of medical precautionary observation.
It is unfortunate that Cerebrospinal Meningitis infection is now on the rise in Jigawa State. The neighboring state should be on full alert and federal government should prevent further spread of the disease.
Outbreak of.menigitis at this present age and time despite the immunization been given for free to babies and the sensitisation I believe we are pass this stage we are as a nation ,all shake holder should come with health personnel to save the situation
Stopping is from spreading is the first it to contain the disease so it doesn’t spread to be able to deal with and create awareness about it so people will know about the exist of the disease
The alert and awareness is really essential. And residents of those red zones should be cautious and careful
A beneficial turn of events for us has been the allocation of resources to the state for the purpose of preventing the further spread of the disease.
This sickness is unfortunate for Nigerians. The federal government and WHO are spending billions of Naira on campaigns and sensitization to immunize people against such diseases, but it appears to be in vain.
Jigawa State’s meningitis outbreak calls for increased public education about the disease’s transmission and prevention measures. The government must assist the medical professionals in this situation.
It is imperative that this illness be contained immediately. In order to prevent it from spreading further in Jigawa state, we must act quickly. If we don’t intervene, it will become impossible to stop.
The pentavalent vaccine and diphtheria immunization must be given to youngsters by their parents.