LAGOS, Feb 18, 2005 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- An outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis has claimed at least 20 lives in six local government areas of Adamawa state in northeast Nigeria, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported Friday.
Gusadi Ahilaga, a legislator of Numan Constituency, was quoted as saying the scourge was reported in Numan, Lamorde, Demsa, Mubi North, Mubi South and Fufure local government areas.
He called on the state government to deploy medical personnel to the areas as soon as possible.
Ahilaga expressed fears over the increase in death toll as there were no official reports from remote villages that were also hit by the disease.
The state government has directed the State Ministry of Health to dispatch medical personnel and vaccines to the infected areas as well as other areas to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
However, Commissioner for Health Saidu Morumpa complained of scarcity of vaccines in the state, noting that the government would collaborate with relevant agencies to immunize the people.