Plateau has suspected cases of cerebra-spinal meningitis, says commissioner

Plateau has recorded some suspected cases of Cerebro-spinal meningitis in Langtang South and Mikang Local Government Areas.

Dr Kunden Deyin, the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos.

Deyin said that findings from the suspected cases were consistent with cerebra-spinal meningitis, clinically.

He said that the national policy on meningitis now stipulates that before any case is confirmed as being that  of meningitis, a blood sample or cerebra-spinal fluid must have been diagnosed at a government approved medical laboratory.

It is the results from such a laboratory that will confirm the case as being that of cerebra-spinal meningitis, he said.

The commissioner said that those persons suspected to be suffering from the diseases had commenced treatment with antibiotics.

He, however, said that two others, suspected to be victims of the disease, were yet to commence treatment because their blood-samples had just been taken to the laboratory for analysis.

Deyin said that the major symptoms of cerebra-spinal meningitis are: severe headaches, fever and neck stiffness (whereby the individual can’t turn his or her neck).

According to him, other symptoms are: some altered consciousness, vomiting and photo-phobia (such persons don’t want to see light), while in children some of them might twitch (convulsion).

He appealed to the public to be vigilant and report any of such symptoms promptly to the nearest health facility.

Deyin said the disease was usually more prevalent between December and June.

The commissioner also advised people to always desist from staying in overcrowded places and sleep in well ventilated rooms.