Description of the situation
06 March 1996
Disease Outbreak Reported
As at 4 March, 15 733 cases with 2 411 deaths had been reported in 12 States: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Sokoto, and Taraba. Most cases were from Bauchi (4 399 cases/802 deaths), Kebbi (2 812/429), Kano (2 475/419), Sokoto (1 687/246) and Katsina (1 590/419). Cases began to be reported in January and the numbers reported increased markedly in February. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF and NGOs, including MSF, France have dispatched medical teams to the affected states to assist in the evaluation and control of the outbreaks. Over 8 million doses of vaccine, antibiotics and infusion fluids have been distributed to the affected States and the Federal Ministry of Health has ordered an additional 10 million doses of the vaccine. Immunization is planned for the populations in all urban areas in these states. For Kano State, MSF has provided drugs and equipment to a value of US$ 1.9 million. The Federal Ministry of Health reports that the concerted efforts have helped bring the outbreaks under control and there is no cause for alarm.