One
person has been confirmed dead following a case of Cerebral Spinal
Meningitis (CSM) outbreak in Cross River while 23 others are currently
receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
(UCTH).Dr Inyang Asibong, the State Commissioner for Health, who visited the
hospital on Wednesday, said that the disease had been on the increase
in the state.Asibong said that the deceased, Master Paul Ogar, 12, was brought
from Ogoja Local Government Area of the state with the disease which
eventually led to his death.According to her, the ministry was doing its best to curb the
outbreak, adding that Cross River was among the 16 states with the
outbreak of CSM in Nigeria.
“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.“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,’’ the commissioner said.Asibong advised residents to increase their personal hygiene,
especially washing of hands, avoiding overcrowded places and direct
contact with people coughing or sneezing.“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“Incubation periods for CSM vary from 2 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,’’ she
said.She also urged residents to allow adequate ventilation into their
houses, adding that anyone who noticed any of the symptoms should seek
immediate medication 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.“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,’’ the commissioner said.Asibong advised residents to increase their personal hygiene,
especially washing of hands, avoiding overcrowded places and direct
contact with people coughing or sneezing.“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“Incubation periods for CSM vary from 2 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,’’ she
said.She also urged residents to allow adequate ventilation into their
houses, adding that anyone who noticed any of the symptoms should seek
immediate medication from the hospital.
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