RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service

Situation Update No. 1

Posted:2010-03-04, 09:21:35 [UTC]

Ref.no.: EP-20100304-25198-NGA

Situation Update No. 1
On 2010-03-22 at 16:54:32 [UTC]

Event: Epidemic
Location: Nigeria State of Bauchi Bauchi-wide

Number of Deads: 46 person(s)
Number of Infected: 138 person(s)

No fewer than 46 persons have died since January when the outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) , caused by intense heat, was reported in some states of Nigeria. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on Sunday in Abuja issued an alert on the harsh weather and said the heat would get more intense and cause a lot of discomfort and diseases. It advised people to stay ventilated areas. The highest number of 22 deaths was recorded in Bauchi State, 13 in Jigawa, 9 in Gombe and 2 in Sokoto states. In Bauchi State, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr Musa Dambam, said that 22 children died of CSM between January and February. Dambam said that about 138 suspected cases of the disease were recorded in 15 of the 20 local government areas of the state within the period. In Jigawa, no less than 13 persons were reported to have died as a result of the CSM outbreak. Dr Ibrahim Nashabaru, the State Commissioner for Health, told newsmen in Dutse that about 17 local government areas of the state were affected. The State Ministry of Health in Gombe confirmed the death of nine persons in 9 of the 11 local government areas of the state. Dr Mohammad Umar, the State Commissioner for Health, told newsmen that 94 suspected cases of the disease had been reported, and that efforts were being intensified to halt the situation. Similarly in Sokoto State, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, said that a CSM outbreak had claimed the lives of two children in Wamakko Local Government area. Kilgori said that 17 of the 22 cases recorded were from Gidan-Hamidu village. In Yola, the World Health Organisation (WHO) office confirmed that four people had tested positive to CSM out of the 33 samples, which were sent for laboratory analysis. The WHO officer in the state, Dr. Isa Adamu, confirmed on Sunday that the 33 samples were taken from across the state between January and February for analysis in Damaturu, Maiduguri and Lagos. Meanwhile, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has issued an alert warning the people to be wary of the weather and advised that preventive measures to taken by staying in ventilated areas.