Meningitis: Death toll rises to 745

Nigeria: According to the statement released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, 745 deaths have resulted from the outbreak of meningitis so far. Nigeria is one of 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where large meningitis epidemics tend to occur. Outbreaks tend to peak in the dry season due to low humidity and dusty conditions and end when the rainy season arrives. The NCDC in a statement, pointed that the cases of the fatal disease is on the increase in the Northern part of the country, however the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care convened a meeting of governors and traditional leaders from all northern Nigerian states with federal government and development partners in efforts to end the outbreak. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) coordinated mass vaccination for 2-29-year-olds in Katsina and Zamfara, where the outbreak started. According to the incident manager of the NCDC's emergency operations centre, There has been rapid response from team members and other government agencies. "We are grateful to all Rapid Response Team members, including government agency and partner staff who have remained at their different field posts, through the Easter period working on this outbreak response and control," he said. NCDC chief executive officer Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu added that the NCDC will continue to engage proactively through all the channels of communication online and offline. "We will also continue to work with our health reporters and journalists across the country to ensure easy reporting of facts. We need all hands on deck," he said Source: allAfrica news