12-year-old boy dies, 23 others infected, following meningitis outbreak in Cross River
At least one person has been confirmed dead as a result of a Cerebral Spinal Meningitis outbreak in Cross River.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, said on Wednesday that 23 others were affected.
A 12-year-old boy, identified as Paul Ogar, reportedly died in Calabar.
Dr Asibong said most of the victims had been treated and discharged from the hospital.
“Before now, we have actually been having sporadic cases of CSM, but it has been on the increase this year and this is not normal for Cross River,” the Commissioner said.
“We have set our state team in motion and the epidemiologists department is currently on top of the situation carrying out surveillance in all quarters.
“Another notable thing is that these cases were mainly recorded in Ogoja and Yala local government areas of the stated.
“We are working with the federal ministry of health to ensure that we curb this outbreak and hoping that we get the vaccination for the symptoms,” she added.
Dr Asibong further urged citizens to be conscious of their personal hygiene.
“People living in overcrowded conditions, poorly ventilated houses and generally poor sanitary conditions are very vulnerable to respiratory infections, and this encourages the growth and survival of the bacteria,” she said.
“Incubation periods for CSM vary from two to 10 days with symptoms such as but not limited to stiff neck, high fever, headache, vomiting, and confusion. Early treatment can help prevent serious long- term consequences such as deafness, blindness, epileptic seizures and brain damage,” Asibong added.
Meanwhile, Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, said on Tuesday that the outbreak of the epidemic was God’s own way of punishing Nigerians for engaging in fornication.
Over 300 deaths have been recorded across several states in Nigeria since the outbreak of the disease.
