Panic in Delta State as govt confirms 3 new cases

Panic has gripped Delta State residents following the confirmation of three new cases of

According to a report by SaharaReporters, the three new cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Asaba, was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Health, Dr. M. I. Oseji on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

In her words: "There is one suspected case of meningitis in Asaba. There’s another probable case of Meningococcal Meningitis in Asaba with positive microscopy, but no culture and sensitivity done on cerebrospinal fluid. There’s also one confirmed case of Pneumococcal Meningitis in Warri with positive microscopy, culture, and sensitivity."

However, no deaths have been recorded yet in the reported cases.

The first case of the deadly disease in Delta State was confirmed on Tuesday by Dr. Ngozi Chukwubeni, a consultant physician at the Warri Central Hospital, Warri South Local Government Area.

In a chat with journalists in Asaba, Delta State, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, denied that the state is experiencing a meningitis outbreak, explaining that it is only when the occurrence is within the ratio of “five percent per week and per 100,000 persons” that it is considered an outbreak.

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Azinge explained that the case of one of the patients at the FMC in Asaba was inconclusive because of other complications that developed in his brain during an examination.

Meanwhile, the commissioner said that the state's Rapid Response Team has already started monitoring the pattern of occurrence, with a view to curtailing the spread of the disease.