From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has raised the alarm over possible outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) across the country, particularly in the 19 northern states.
It explained that CSM is an inflammation of the meninges, a thin layer of the connective tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord, adding that the inflammation could be caused by infection from bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi.
The NCDC disclosed the highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the ‘Meningitis Belt’ which includes all the 19 northern states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some southern states, such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Osun.
The Centre, however, confirmed that some actions had commenced in preparation for the outbreak, hence it solicited the support of all stakeholders to achieve its desire as regards response to the imminent outbreak of meningitis.
The NCDC Director General, Ifedayo Adetifa, in a statement, yesterday, confirmed that weather conditions like the dry season which comes with dust, winds, cold nights, and frequent upper respiratory tract infections increase the risk of infection, especially with crowding and poor ventilation.
He said despite significant progress in surveillance, diagnostic capacity, and vaccination over the last few years, CSM remains a priority disease and ever-present public health threat in Nigeria with annual outbreaks in high-burden states, which present a challenge for the people, health systems, economies, and communities.
He disclosed that 190 deaths were recorded last year from across 140 local government areas (LGAs) in 30 states, including the FCT, stressing that the National CSM Technical Working Group (TWG), comprising representation from all relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and development partners with its secretariat at the NCDC, had been activated for monitoring disease trends to effect multi-sectoral preparedness and response.
Adetifa said the NCDC, in collaboration with the MDAs and partners, through the CSM TWG, had initiated several steps to ensure enhanced coordination, collaboration, and communication for CSM response in Nigeria.
He said: “State governments and public health authorities have been alerted to the heightened risk of CSM outbreak, and the need for resource mobilisation for preparedness and response activities.
“There have been routine meetings of the national multi-sectoral CSM TWG to coordinate prevention and preparedness activities; regular communication with high burden states to ascertain status, progress, and challenges.
“There’s ongoing surveillance in all states through routine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and Event-Based Surveillance (EBS); provision of offsite and onsite support to states and follow-up for daily reporting and progress with response activities.
“We have commenced preposition and distribution of case management and laboratory consumables to aid outbreak response; heightened risk communication to create public awareness of CSM prevention measures, as well as signs and symptoms, in addition to sample collection for laboratory diagnosis of suspected cases across the CSM network of laboratories to aid case management.”