Bauchi confirms outbreak of Meningitis
The Bauchi State Government has confirmed the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the State.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Adamu Sambo, also confirmed six reported cases of the disease.
The Commissioner disclosed this when he was asked about measures put in place to check any outbreak in the as neighboring Yobe State is already battling with the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis.
He said, “We recorded 6 confirmed cases of cerebrospinal meningitis in the State, but measures are in place to curtail its spread, especially in local government areas bordering Yobe state, which are Dambam, Gamawa, katagum, It’s/Gadau, and Zaki.”
Earlier, an official with the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency who pleaded anonymity, said contact tracing is currently ongoing in local government areas bordering Yobe State.
He revealed that a team from the National Primary Health Development Agency is in the State for surveillance and support to curtail its spread.
The official maintained that it is only the Ministry of Health after briefing the Governor and other relevant partners that can pronounce an outbreak of any disease.
According to the WHO, Meningitis is a serious infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is a devastating disease and remains a major public health challenge.
The disease can be caused by many different pathogens including bacteria, fungi or viruses, but the highest global burden is seen with bacterial meningitis.
The WHO said the bacteria that cause meningitis are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers.
Close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters with an infected person, facilitates the spread of the disease.
The average incubation period is 4 days but can range between 2 and 10 days.
”Neisseria meningitidis only infects humans. The bacteria can be carried in the throat and can sometimes overwhelm the body’s defences allowing infection to spread through the bloodstream to the brain.
“A significant proportion of the population (between 5 and 10%) carries Neisseria meningitidis in their throat at any given time,” the WHO said.
0
0
