From Judex Okoro,
Calabar
THE outbreak of Cerebral Meningitis in Cross River State has claimed two more lives.
Last week, one person was confirmed dead at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, while about 23 others were receiving treatment.
The state epidemiologist, Patience Uke, who disclosed this to newsmen in Calabar yesterday, said two meningitis related deaths were recorded in the hospital, bringing the death toll to three, while 26 suspected cases were receiving treatment.
Also confirming the deaths, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, said the state was expecting medical assistance from the Federal Ministry of Health.
“There are serious concerns that the slow medical response from relevant authorities may spell doom for several persons already down with meningitis and a very high-at-risk population in the state.
“We have tried to ensure that the situation is contained. That is why we have put in place facilities and personnel to ensure that as much as possible, we do not record more cases of death,” Asibong said.
He added: “The ministry has started sensitising the public on the dangers of meningitis in particular and other communicable diseases in general. Besides, the state government has given the ministry the needed support to contain the situation.
“We are fighting the outbreak of the disease with everything within our power to ensure that the disease is contained as soon as possible. We in the ministry are mobilising to drastically reduce the impact of the disease. So, we are doing something about the situation.”