Understanding the new strain of Meningitis: Neisseria meningitides C
The new strain of Meningitis currently ravaging the northern part of Nigeria has seen a total of 2,997 cases with 336 deaths have been reported with 146 of cases being laboratory confirmed in the Northwest and North central zones of Nigeria in five States (Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto) according to NCDC.
NCDC says that this strain has been found in 83% of samples tested. According to Olubunmi Ojo, director of surveillance at the NCDC, “Immunisation is key to the prevention of meningitis.
Between 2011 -2014, the MenAfriVac vaccination campaign against the predominantly circulating Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A in Nigeria then, led to a major reduction in cases recorded from that strain. We now see an outbreak caused predominantly by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC).
While reactive vaccination helps to curtail outbreaks, a vaccination campaign against NmC with a long-lasting conjugate vaccine is sorely needed in the region.”
The most affected age group is 5 to 14 year olds and they are responsible for about half of reported cases. Both sexes are almost equally affected.
What is Neisseria meningitidesC
According to World Health Organisation several different bacteria can cause meningitis. Neisseria meningitidis is the one with the potential to cause large epidemics.
There are 12 serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis that have been identified, 6 of which (A, B, C, W, X and Y) can cause epidemics. Geographic distribution and epidemic potential differ according to serogroup,
Experts say strain A is found most often in Sub-Sahara Africa. Strain B is found mainly in the United Kingdom and an epidemic of this strain was also reported in New Zealand.
Strain C is has caused epidemics in the United Kingdom. Strain Y has emerged as the cause of disease in North America. Strain X was reported to cause an outbreak in Niger. Strain W135 has shown up along the annual pilgrimage to Mecca especially in the country of Saudi Arabia.
Symptoms
According boiweb,this disease has many symptoms including high fever, rash, arthritis, and problems with blood flow. The problems with blood flow usually result in skin lesions that look like dark red or purple splotches all over the body. The bacteria will eventually affect the adrenal glands and adrenal insufficiency quickly leads to death.
The most common disease caused by Neisseria Meningitidis is Meningococcal Meningitis or more commonly known as bacterial meningitis. It is also known as epidemic meningitis. The disease usually comes on quickly with severe headaches, high fever, pain and stiffness of the neck, back, and shoulders and nausea follows shortly after all of these initial symptoms.
Since N. Meningitidis is non-motile there have not been many adaptations that it has had to make. Its habitat, which is the nose and throat area of human beings, does not go under drastic temperature changes or environmental changes. This bacteria has become resistant to penicillin and some antibiotics in some of its forms however.
Prevention
The federal ministry of health has issued a public advisory warning the public to avoid of overcrowding, close and prolong contact with a case study.
Nigerians have also been advised to properly dispose of respiratory and throat secretions, strictly observe hand hygiene and sneezing into elbow joint/sleeves.
“Reduce hand shaking, kissing and sharing utensils or medical intervention such as resuscitation, vaccination with relevant serotype of the meningococcal vaccine and self-medication should be avoided.
Anthonia Obokoh