More fears have continued to grip Delta state following three new cases of cerebrospinal Meningitis in Asaba, the sate capital. First case had on Tuesday confirmed in Warri by a consultant physician, Dr. Ngozi Chukwubeni, at the Warri Central Hospital, Warri South local government area of the state.
Addressing Journalists Thursday at the conference hall of the ministry of information, Asaba, Delta State Commissioner of Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, confirmed the three new cases of meningitis at the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Asaba in the state capital, but however denied any outbreak of meningitis in the state as according to him, it is only when the cases are within the ratio of ‘five per cent, per week and per 100,000 persons’ that it becomes an outbreak.
According to the health commissioner, the case of the victim in Warri has nothing to do with the kind of cerebrospinal meningitis that ravaging a some part of the Northern state.
“The case of one of the two persons at FMC was inconclusive because of other complications the patient develop in the brain during examination.”
Azinge immediately, the cases were reported, the state’s Rapid Response Team swung into action to curtail its spread, adding that specimen of cerebrospinal meningitis samples have been collected through the spinal-chord of the patients for medical examination.
Azinge listed symptoms that goes with the disease to include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, red patches on the skin and coughing.
“Health workers are currently undergoing intensive sensitization on the disease and all detected cases will be immediately referred to the Central Medical Hospitals across the state.”
It would be recalled that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Minnie Oseji confirmed on Wednesday the fresh cases in Asaba, explaining that “One suspected case of Meningitis in Asaba. No microscopy, culture and sensitivity done on the cerebrospinal fluid. One probable case of Meningococcal Meningitis in Asaba with positive microscopy but no culture and sensitivity done on cerebrospinal fluid.
“One confirmed case of Pneumococcal Meningitis in Warri with positive microscopy, culture and sensitivity but there are no recorded deaths.” she stated.