Meningitis Deadly, Be Alert, Ensure Hygiene – Lagos Tells Residents
By Chioma Umeha
The Lagos State Government has alerted residents
on the dangers of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis and urged them to observe high
standards of personal and environmental hygiene as preventive measures against
Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).
Idris in a statement on Monday signed by the
Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs Adeola Salako,
warned that the decease is deadly.
The commissioner said that no case of CSM had been
recorded in the state contrary to what had been published
“However as a responsive government, we deem it
fit to alert the public, “ he said.
Idris said preventive measures should include
washing of hands with soap and water frequently.
“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.
“People should also get vaccinated with CSM
vaccine when you are travelling to areas where meningitis outbreaks have been
reported, “ he said.
The commissioner said CSM is a dangerous and a
life threatening disease that affects the thin layers of the tissue around the
brain and spinal cord of an infected human person and is caused by bacteria.
He said that CSM is an epidemic-prone disease that
spreads from person to person through contact with discharges or droplets from
nose and throat of an infected person.
“It can also be transmitted through kissing,
sneezing and coughing, especially amongst people living in close quarters,
hotels, refugee camp, barracks, public transportation and areas with poor
ventilation or overcrowded places, “ Idris said.
He said that though seasonal meningitis outbreak
usually affects mainly the Northern States that fall within the meningitis belt
of the country, it is not impossible that outbreaks could occur in any part of
the country.
While urging residents to take responsibility for
their health and report persons with the above symptoms to the nearest public
health facility or the Ministry of Health, the Commissioner stated that the
State Government had put in place all the above measures towards avoidance and
prevention of outbreak of CSM in Lagos State.
Idris advised the general public to remain calm
and report suspected cases to the nearest public health facility or contact
Disease Surveillance Officers of the Ministry of Heath on the following GSM
numbers: 08037170614, 09087106072, 08023169485, 08052817243, 08026441681.
The commissioner said that health workers in the
state in all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas had
been placed on high alert.
According to him, the disease surveillance and
monitoring activities have since been intensified.
“Health workers are also advised to avoid close
contact with suspected and probable cases of CSM based on the case definition
distributed and ensure proper disposal of respiratory and throats secretions of
cases.
“They are also to 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.
He urged residents to take responsibility for
their health and report persons with the above symptoms to the nearest public
health facility or the Ministry of Health.
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