In a public health advisory issued Thursday, NCDC said
Nigeria also recorded 2,765 suspected and 303 confirmed meningitis cases across
140 Local Government Areas (LGAs) during the period.
It said the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry
of Health and Social Welfare, and the NCDC is working to prevent, detect, and
respond to cases of CSM.
Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) occurs when there is an acute
inflammation of the covering of the brain and the spinal cord. CSM is an
epidemic-prone disease with cases reported all year round in Nigeria.
The advisory said however, weather conditions like the dry
season that comes with dust, winds, cold nights, and frequent upper respiratory
tract infections increase the risk of infection, especially with crowding and
poor ventilation.
“The highest burden of CSM in Nigeria occurs in the
“Meningitis Belt” which includes all 19 states in the Northern region, the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some southern states such as Bayelsa,
Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun),” it said.
NCDC said the National CSM Technical Working Group
(Technical Working Group, including representation from all relevant
Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and development partners) with its
secretariat within the organization is responsible for monitoring disease
trends to effect multi-sectoral preparedness and response.
It said despite significant progress in surveillance,
diagnostic capacity, and vaccination over the last few years, CSM remains a
priority disease and ever-present public health threat in Nigeria with annual
outbreaks in high-burden states that present a challenge for people, health
systems, economies, and communities.
The advisory said, “The NCDC, in collaboration with MDAs and partners through the CSM TWG, has implemented the following to ensure enhanced
coordination, collaboration, and communication for CSM response in
Nigeria.
“At the beginning of the season, all state governments and
public health Ongoing surveillance in all states through routine Integrated
Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and Event-Based Surveillance (EBS).
“Provision of offsite and onsite support to States and
follow-up for daily reporting and progress with response activities.
“Preposition and distribution of case management and
laboratory consumables to aid outbreak response.
“Risk communication to create public awareness of CSM
prevention measures as well as signs and symptoms.
“Sample collection for laboratory diagnosis of suspected
cases across the CSM network of laboratories to aid case management.
“Deployment of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to Jigawa state
to investigate report of rising cases and provide medical and laboratory
commodities to aid the State’s response. Deployment by the Bauchi State
Ministry of Health RRT to investigate reports of CSM cases.”
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