ENVIROMENT AND DISEASE THE CASE OF CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS IN SHIRORO LOCAL GOVERMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) is the most important contagious bacterial infection of the central nervous system. It is an example of a disease that is well known in industrialized countries but takes its greatest toll in developing countries. Poor housing conditions, insufficient hygiene and malnutrition all contribute to the development and spread of meaningitis. The implicated organisms usually is Neisseria meningitidis, a gram-negative diplococcus. Surveillance reports obtained from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that the highest number of cases and the burden of disease occur in sub Saharan Africa in an area that is referred to as the "Meningitis Belt". This area extends from Ethiopia in the east to Senegal in the west. According to the report, epidemic occur in seasonal cycles between the end of November and the end of June, depending on the location and climate of the country, and declines rapidly with the arrival of the rainy season. Nigeria lies within the meningitis belt. The prevailing weather and socio economic conditions in many parts of the country seem to be a conducive environment for the outbreak of meningitis epidemic going by the trends in the spread of the disease over the past few years. Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that of the 5,948 CSM cases in Nigeria reported in 1998. 650 were fatal. In 1999, a total of 1,946 cases were reported and 165 were fatal. From data available as at May 2000, 711 cases of the disease had been reported, 9 were fatal. In Niger State, in general, poor living condition, adverse weather condition among others, make this state conducive for CSM activities. Specifically v ommunities'in seven of the former twenty-five Local Government Area constitute he CSM belt of Niger State. These communities are predominantly poor and rural character, with poorly-ventilated, densely crowded houses; harsh weather onditions - high temperature and low humidity during the windy, dusty harmattan eason. Also, resistance to vaccination borne out of ignorance rooted in certain cultural eliefs was found in some members of these communities. There is a seasonal pattern in the transmission and manifestation of erebrospinal Meningitis, with all the reported cases falling in the mid-harmattan eriod of January to March. This is the period when day temperatures are at their ak (34°C) and the dusty harmattan wind from the North is at its maximum. This is indication that local climatic conditions influence the epidemiology of CSM. The ansmission and mani [estation of CSM takes place during the dry season and begins wane as the rain appears. This study is focused at demonstrating the need for the placement of vironmental considerations along side purely medical options on the front seat in aiming preventive and control measures of CSM. Environmental Health Education of the communities IS vital and highly ommended in order to stem the development and spread of cerebrospinal ningitis because ignorance of environmental risk factors influence the . demidogy of CSM.