Scores die of meningitis
2004-03-20 11:46
Lagos - An outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis has claimed an unspecified number of lives in Nigerian northern Jigawa State, officials told AFP, with media reports putting the death toll at between 30 and 100.
"I can confirm the outbreak of the disease and the fact that a number of people have died as a result of the outbreak in some parts of the state. Health officials are still compiling reports on the outbreak," said the official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.
ThisDay and Daily Times newspapers reported on Friday that about 100 people have died out of some 500 who had contracted the disease.
Private Channels television said the disease has claimed at least 30 lives in the past week.
State and health official in Jigawa held an emergency meeting on Friday morning in the state capital Dutse to map out a strategy to fight the disease, said the official.