The Nigeria
Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has declared the epidemic of cerebrospinal
meningitis over, after a “constant decline for eight weeks."
It stepped
down the Emergency Operations Centre battling the outbreak after it said the
most affected states have recorded much fewer new cases.
“In the last
four weeks, no Local Government Area has reached outbreak alert threshold,” it
said in a statement.
A total
14,518 suspected cases of meningitis were reported from 25 states since it
began in Zamfara in December.
A total
1,166 have died in the epidemic.
“While NCDC
has stepped down the emergency response, the work never stops – we will
continue to work 24/7 to ensure the protection of all Nigerians against
infectious disease threats,” said NCDC chief executive officer Chikwe
Ihekweazu.
Millions
were immunized in the reactive vaccination campaigns in Zamfara, Sokoto, Yobe
and Katsina States.
“We are very
grateful to the Government of Zamfara and Sokoto States for their excellent
leadership during the outbreak,” Ihekweazu said.
The Centre
says it is in planning process to “prevent future outbreaks and ensuring better
preparedness for the next epidemic season has begun.”
A national
reference laboratory in Gaduwa, Abuja is in operation to help improve
laboratory capacity in efforts to improve diagnoses in epidemics.
NCDC is also
coordinating a network of laboratories across the country to improve case
confirmation capacity, it said.
National
guidelines towards responding to future outbreaks are being developed together
with ongoing continuous awareness campaigns, keeping the general public
informed. Workshops to improve preparedness are also being organized, according
to the center.
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