Lagos State government has alerted residents on the danger of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), calling on them to report any suspected case to the nearest public health facilities within their location.
A new strain of CSM causative agent, Neisseria Meningitides type C, which is slightly different from the causative agent of the seasonal CSM in Nigeria, has affected some states in the country.
As of now, over 90 local government areas in 16 states of the federation are so far affected – Zamfara, Kastina, Sokoto, KEbbi, Niger, Nassarawa, Jigawa, FCT, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, Kano, Osun, Cross River, Lagos, and Plateau.
On this note, Jide Idris, commissioner for health, Lagos State, made this known in a press statement released yesterday.
The CSM is a dangerous and a life threatening disease that affects the thin layers of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord of an infected human person, and bacteria cause it, Idris said.
While urging residents to take responsibility for their health and report persons with the above symptoms to the nearest public health facility or the Ministry of Health, Idris said the state had put in place all the above measures towards avoidance and prevention of outbreak.
The commissioner therefore advised the general public to remain calm and report suspected cases to the nearest public health facility or contact Disease Surveillance Officers of the Ministry of Heath on the following GSM numbers 08037170614, 09087106072, 08023169485, 08052817243, 08026441681.
However, meningitis is an epidemic prone disease that spreads from person to person through contact with discharges or droplets from nose and throat of an infected person, he said.
It can also be transmitted through kissing, sneezing and coughing, especially among people living in close quarters, hotels, refugee camp, barracks, public transportation and areas with poor ventilation or overcrowded places.
The commissioner noted, “Though, seasonal Meningitis outbreak usually affects the mainly Northern States that fall within the meningitis belt of the country, it is not impossible that outbreaks can occur in any part of the country, Lagos inclusive, in view of the phenomenal climatic change as well as the high human migration.
“No case of CSM has been recorded in Lagos State contrary to what has been published. However as a responsive government, we deem it fit to alert the public.”
According to Idris, “The disease usually presents with high body temperature, pain and stiffness of the neck, headache, vomiting, fear of light, restlessness and confusion stressed that death may occur if not promptly and properly managed.”
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