Fifteen cases of Measles have been detected in Nasarawa State, this was disclosed by Dr Daniel Iya, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health.
Iya disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia on efforts at curbing communicable diseases.
He said efforts would be intensified to prevent outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in the state.
Iya said that there was no reported case of death from the outbreak of CSM.
“We have high coverage of immunisation based on data collected and now getting information about measles outbreak not being documented shows there is a problem,” he said.
He said the ministry had begun investigation to ascertain what could be responsible, saying breakage in the ‘cold chain’ facility for the vaccine reduces its potency, given the challenges of power supply for its management.
Iya stressed the need to strengthen routine immunisation rather than back immunisation, cross check the cold chain and to raise the index of suspicion against disease outbreaks.
He emphasised the need for stakeholders to adhere strictly to routine immunisation so as to check outbreak of communicable diseases.
On the current outbreak of meningitis in the country, the commissioner said no case had been reported in the state.
“I want to state categorically that as of today we have not had a case reported; either suspected or confirmed of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in Nasarawa state,” he said.
He said proactive measures have been taken through aggressive sensitisation through the media and other platforms on the mode of the spread and prevention of the disease, which would be sustained for sometime.
According to Iya, government is working towards having adequate drugs in health facilities across the state to manage the situation should there be an outbreak in the state.
He said that health workers in the state have been put on red alert in terms of increasing index of suspicion and taking necessary steps in making diagnosis.
He said vaccines for the disease were distributed to states that had outbreak, adding that the National Centre for Disease Control is working towards procuring the vaccine for immunisation against another outbreak.
Iya explained that meningitis outbreak was not new in the country as there was always minor and major outbreaks every three and 10 years, respectively.
He therefore urged residents of the state to remain calm and adhere to safety preoccupations of sleeping in well ventilated rooms and observing basic personal hygiene.
He also advised that people should avoid contacts with those manifesting symptoms such as headache, stiff neck and vomiting, among others.
