The Plague Of Meningitis Measles In The North

Deaths from cerbro-spinal meningitis, measles, and other preventable diseases are now reported daily in several towns in northern Nigeria. Meningitis and measles seem to have been the most widespread, though killings by gunmen in the region seem to have eclipsed reports of other deaths. Typhoid fever and malaria have also continued their onslaught, as do cholera, typhoid fever and gastroenteritis.

At this time of every year, meningitis ravages many parts of the north. People easily attribute the high incidence to hot weather, which is worsened by poor ventilation in homes occupied by the urban and rural poor, especially in the north. However, health authorities point at bacteria, viruses, reactions to medications and toxins.

Meningitis (swelling of the lining around the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning caused by the same germs can afflict someone at the same time, and both are very dangerous. The usual symptoms of the former include fever, vomiting, nausea, headache and skin rashes; the most serious is stiffness of the neck and dislike of light.

Both meningitis and measles could be avoided by immunisation. Those who kill health workers on immunization duty or circulate rumours to prevent children from being immunized against deadly diseases are therefore enemies. Sadly, it’s only the poor and the ignorant that usually fall prey to these enemies of good health in the north.


Any person suspected to have contracted meningitis or measles should be taken to a hospital immediately. Delay could be dangerous! Health workers should go into rural communities and educate them on preventive measures. They could be taught to build houses with enough ventilation.

Overcrowding should be avoided. The poor living in slums should ensure that their environment is clean; malaria could be avoided by clearing bushes and disinfecting gutters where mosquitoes breed.

Due to lack of clean water – and even unclean water – in many northern towns at this time, cholera epidemic should be expected.

The disease is characterised by vomiting and frequent defecation and could kill a patient within a few hours. Therefore, health officials in primary or secondary health centres should ensure that the needed drugs are available.

Gastroenteritis or inflammation of the digestive tract is another possible killer at this time. Like cholera, it is implicated in diarrhea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite and stomach ache. Severe cases can lead to dehydration.

First-aid treatments prescribed include drinking only clean and clear liquids (water or oral drip) until 24 hours after the stooling has stopped as well as avoidance of milk and drugs like aspirin and antibiotics.

Cleanliness is the best preventive measure against most of these seasonal diseases. Those exposed to them should therefore always wash their hands, especially after visiting the toilet. Patients should always be taken to a doctor promptly.