ABUJA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-three people have died in a state in central Nigeria following the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in parts of the west African country, a public health official said on Friday.
Nine among the victims were killed by Type C, the latest strain of meningitis in the country while the other 24 died of Type A and B of the same disease, according to Yahaya Na'uzo, director of Primary Health Care in Niger State.
He said a total of 116 suspected cases of meningitis have so far been recorded in the central Nigeria state.
Some of the victims were persons on transit from the northwestern state of Sokoto which is one of the worst-hit states by the outbreak.
The number of states affected by the outbreak of meningitis, which is an acute inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord, has increased to 17, local officials said.
A total of 489 deaths have been recorded due to the outbreak across the country, minister of health, Isaac Adewole, said.
He noted Type C is a new strain, which is not common in Nigeria. This was imported from neighboring Niger, he said, adding it requires a different type of vaccine.
The symptoms include fever, rash, headache, and vomiting.
The seasonal outbreak of meningitis is expected in Nigeria due to its location and occasioned by factors like cold nights, dusty winds and dry weather.
The current problem was aggravated by formidable factors like traditional beliefs, poor hygiene, and overpopulation, experts told Xinhua.
The Nigerian government has deployed epidemiologists and vaccines to contain the outbreak. Vaccination is an effective way of controlling the disease.
Health authorities have bolstered immunization and sensitization services across the country.