Nigerian health authorities have placed northern states on high alert following a meningitis outbreak in neighbouring Niger, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) killed 17 people and infected 382 in January.
– In view of the fact that there are certain states sharing boundaries with Niger Republic, we have adopted a stitch-in-time strategy of putting these states on a state of high alert, said Nigerian Health Minister Babatunde Osotimehin in a statement.
The Nigerian states identified as highest-risk are Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa.
Since 1 February Nigerian health officials reported 15 deaths from meningitis and more than 200 hospitalisations in Katsina state, Nigeria’s closest state to Zinder, an infected region in Niger.
Kilde: www.irinnews.org
