Disease

Nigeria: 42 dead in meningitis outbreak

Health officials in the north-western state of Kebbi have reported at least 42 fatalities, or a quarter of the 154 people infected from the five local government areas (LGA) reporting cases. In addition, 58 people are still receiving treatment at designated camps.

Reports do not specify the specific type of meningitis implicated in the Kebbi outbreak. It is being attributed to “sleeping in overcrowded and unventilated rooms.”

The countries of the African Meningitis Belt, including parts of Nigeria, face outbreaks of the deadly bacterial disease every year.

Cholera in Mozambique

Mozambique has been experiencing a cholera epidemic since late December and the total case count is now over 4,500. According to an RFI report (computer translated), the outbreak has sickened 4,518 (confirmed cases) and resulted in the deaths of 41 people.

Often people have mild illness or no symptoms. However, about 1 in 20 (5%) of infected people will have severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these people, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.