Meningitis: Death toll triple to 21 in Sokoto 2 unconfirmed deaths reported in Bauchi

Fatalities from meningitis in Sokoto state have tripled from seven the previous week to 21.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale yesterday confirmed that the disease had claimed 21 lives in Kebbe, Bodinga, Rabah, Wamakko, Gada, Dange/ Shuni and Tureta local government areas.

He revealed that 330 mixed cases of severe malaria and meningitis were treated across the seven top-hit local government areas, and that of the 330 cases, 40 were confirmed to be meningitis , out of which 14 fatalities were recorded.

”These 14 deaths excluded the seven deaths earlier recorded in parts of Gada local government area,” he stated, adding however that the state government deployed 15 medical teams, comprising over 150 medical personnel across the 23 local government areas of the state, fully equipped with ambulances and provided with free drugs and medicament.

The Commissioner said the emergency response teams conducted house to house search and thousands of other cases were treated at the Primary Health Centres in the local government areas.

The Commissioner called on residents to avoid sleeping in overcrowded rooms, and to ensure personal and environmental hygiene.

In Bauchi State, government has not officially recorded or confirmed any outbreak but the Head of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Agency, Ibrahim Gamawa, a pharmacist, said the suspected Meningitis cases were recorded in Katagum.

Speaking to our reporter on telephone yesterday, he said that the cases were reported from Madangala and another ward in Katagum and both patients died.

“We have two suspected cases. Both persons died. We have sent samples to the laboratory to establish whether it is a Meningitis case or notý and we have not yet confirmed,” he said.

He said the state had put in measures to prevent the occurrence or spread of the disease which is common during this period.

In Katsina, there was reported outbreak of Meningitis (CSM) in Batsari Local government area of the state where many people especially children were said to be down with it. State officials of Ministry of Health confirmed the outbreak but would not discuss numbers of the dead if there were any or number of those affected.

Speaking on the matter, The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kabir Mustapha said, “It is true that there is an outbreak of CSM in some communities in

Batsari Local Government Area, but I cannot tell you further details because the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency is yet to forward full details on the disease outbreak to my office.’’

He said however that the state government had already deployed a team of experts to contain the situation.