Health Alerts

An April 17th update issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the 6 states with meningitis epidemics included the following details. ‘8,057 suspected cases have been reported; 230 (3%) are laboratory confirmed. A total of 745 deaths (9.2%) have been recorded. During the last four weeks, a total of 38 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across six states — Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, and Yobe—reached alert/epidemic threshold status. LGAs reaching the alert threshold trigger intensified epidemic preparedness; a full outbreak response is activated in LGAs reaching the epidemic threshold.’ NCDC Update (Week 17). International agencies, including the WHO, are sending vaccines for use in the planned extensive campaign. Read more.