Meningitis: Lagos places health workers on high alert

The Lagos state government says it has placed health workers in the state on high alert to prevent an outbreak of meningitis in the state.

Jide Idris, commissioner for health, disclosed this on Monday, assuring residents that there has no reported case in the state so far.

About five states, including the federal capital territory, have been affected by Neisseria Meningitides type C, a new strain of meningitis causative agent which is slightly different from the seasonal causative agent.

Idris said the disease could be spread from person to person through contact with discharges from the nose and throat of an infected person.

“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,” he said.

Idris said a seasonal meningitis outbreak is common in the north, but outbreaks could occur in any part of the country especially considering climatic changes and high human migration.

He explained that the disease usually presents with high body temperature, pain and stiffness of the neck, headache, vomiting, fear of light, restlessness and confusion.

The commissioner advised citizens high standards of personal and environmental hygiene as preventive measures against the disease.

“It is strongly advised for people to avoid overcrowding in living quarters, provide cross ventilation in sleeping and work-rooms and other places where many people come together and get vaccinated with CSM vaccine when you are travelling to areas where Meningitis outbreaks have been reported,” he said.

“Health workers are also advised to avoid close contact with suspected and probable cases of CSM based on the case definition distributed, ensure proper disposal of respiratory and throats secretions of cases, report suspected or probable cases, observe universal safety precautionary measures and make use of personal protective equipment when in contact with such cases as highlighted in the Fact-Sheets earlier forwarded to them,” he said.

Idris advised the public to remain calm and report suspected cases to the nearest public health facility or contact the disease surveillance officers of the ministry of health on the following GSM numbers: 08037170614, 09087106072, 08023169485, 08052817243, 08026441681.