An outbreak of Cerebro Spiral Meningitis has killed at least no fewer than 16 persons at Tungan Jika and Mazakari villages of Magama Local Government Area out of 31 cases in four local governments of Niger State.

The State Commissioner of Health and Hospital Services, Dr. Mustapha Mohammed Jibrin, on Tuesday made the disclosure in Minna at a press briefing.

Jibrin said all deaths recorded were from Magama Local Government Area, with eight of them female and seven male, who were within the age of one and 20.

Jibrin added that the four local governments are Magama, with 23 cases; Rijau, four cases; Kontagora recorded three cases; and Agwara has one case.

The first case was reported on March 6, 2017, with 77 per cent of cases from Magama, where most of the localities claimed it was a witchcraft attack on the community.

Jibrin noted that in 2017, the country has recorded 374 cases in 21 states, with 49 deaths.

Meningitis which usually occurs between December and June due to excess heat, over crowding, poverty, malnutrition and others.

The commissioner explained that it is caused by a bacteria which affects the central naval system and spinal cord, adding that the symptoms usually manifests from two to 10 days of infection from fever, body pain and neck stiffness.

He assured of government’s prompt identification and treatment of the victims that it was not a witchcraft attack as alleged by the villagers.

Jibrin appealed to them to have good ventilation, good hygiene, regular hand washing and charged the people to quickly report to the nearest hospital.

Jibrin expressed satisfaction that they are on top of the situation, hence sensitization was ongoing to give antibiotics to those who had close contact with the victims and has partnered with the World Health Organisation for the preventive measure to be put in place to curb its spread, just as the state team, led by the commissioner visited the community on Thursday this week.