Abuja, 09 June 2017 - With the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the northwestern states of Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, the World Health Organization (WHO) through its collaborative networks, has developed the capacity of the existing laboratory in Ahmed Sani Yeriman Bakura specialist hospital Gusau, Zamfara state to a standard public health laboratory. The upgraded facility is now capable of meningitis diagnosis and isolation of meningitis organisms, thus enabling meningitis diagnosis.

Furthermore, the laboratory is also equipped to conduct chemical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. It now serves as reference laboratory for CSF samples from neigbouring states and for Yobe state in Nigeria’s northeastern region.

Speaking in Gusau, Professor Martin Antonio, Principal Investigator and Unit Molecular Biologist in the Vaccines and Immunity theme at the MRC Unit The Gambia, a WHO collaborating center for meningitis control, in West and Central Africa, explained that the organization which assisted to upgrade  the laboratory, has the mandate of conducting research in West Africa and improving lives of the citizenry.

Professor Antonio stated that, when he arrived in Nigeria some weeks ago, there were “many cases with high case fatality rates due to the outbreak of meningitis in some parts of country because case management was not optimal and the laboratories were not able to identify the pathogen.

“There were also a few doctors around to handle cases and they were not getting the right samples of spinal fluid. Prior to commissioning the laboratory, only 4% of the cases had spinal tap”.

Already, WHO has provided reagents and consumables to the laboratory in Gusau, Zamfara state to detect the cases, control the outbreak and manage laboratory surveillance with enhanced capacity.

To achieve the required results, the WHO team also trained doctors and other health personnel on spinal tap on how to run the specialized laboratory, which is presently attaining 80% success rate.

An additional reference laboratory  was set-up in Abuja, making it possible to perform Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis which is an advanced technique of detecting bacterial DNA in clinical specimens. The staff of the laboratories in Gusau and Abuja have also been trained to continue working beyond the present outbreak and in preparedness for future outbreaks.

According to Professor Antonio, “For the first time in the history of Nigeria Center for Diseases Control, the nation could confirm meningitis type C in the country”.

As at 7 June 2017 CSM case reports across the states mostly affected by the CSMs outbreak show a decline in the number of CSM cases. All the 34 LGAs that were in epidemic have all exited the epidemic threshold. Continuous monitoring of the situation is being conducted using the surveillance structures on ground.

All WHO accredited or specialized laboratories provide critical analysis to support disease control processes and surveillance for Member States.