It is no news that meningitis has hit Nigeria so bad especially Zamfara state. Making the governor Yaro to respond to the situation saying
“meningitis in the country was a direct punishment from God for the people of Nigeria for their various sinful acts “
This statement has got me thinking is he in his right senses? Probably what he is saying that meningitis is caused by sin might be true. Well we don’t blame him God might be really punishing us for our wrong doings,just take a look at atrocities we commit from transgender to gays, laundering to kwaruption sorry corrupt laundering from time to time,the bloodshed in the north by book harams and their herdsmen brothers, the list goes on and one. Governor yaro might be right making that statement, if am God by now Nigeria might not be on world map since the era of obasanjo, am I bad no just saying.
On a second note meningitis in Zamfara state might have been caused by many other manmade factors which our dear governor might now have considered. Before I go on to list those things it isbetter you reading this get to know what is meningitis and all facts surrounding it.
WHAT IS MENINGITIS
Meningitis is defined as an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It’s caused when the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges become infected.
Causes
Meningitis is generally caused by infection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and certain organisms. Anatomical defects or weak immune systems may be linked to recurrent bacterial meningitis. In the majority of cases the cause is a virus. However, some non-infectious causes of meningitis also exist.
Bacteria mimic human cells to get in and stay in
A study carried out by researchers at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, England,
- Viral meningitis
Although viral meningitis is the most common, it is rarely a serious infection. It can be caused by a number of different viruses, such as mosquito-borne viruses. There is no specific treatment for this type of meningitis. In the vast majority of cases the illness resolves itself within a week without any complications.
- Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is generally a serious infection. It is caused by three types of bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae type b, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitides is known as meningococcal meningitis, while meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is known as pneumococcal meningitis. People become infected when they are in close contact with the discharges from the nose or throat of a person who is infected.
Twenty years ago Hib was the main cause of bacterial meningitis – it is not any more thanks to new vaccines which are routinely administered to children.
The doctor needs to know what type of meningitis has infected the patient. Certain antibiotics can stop some types from infecting others.
- Bacterial meningitis in newborns and premature babies
A type of streptococci, called group B streptococci commonly inhabits the vagina and is a common cause of meningitis among premature babies and newborns during the first week of life. Escherichia coli, which inhabit the digestive tract, may also cause meningitis among newborns. Meningitis that occurs during epidemics can affect newborns – Listeria monocytogenes being the most common.
- Bacterial meningitis in children under 5
Children under five years of age in countries that do not offer the vaccine are generally infected by Haemophilus influenzae type B.
- Bacterial meningitis in older children
Older children generally have meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (serotypes 6, 9, 14, 18 and 23) .
- Bacterial meningitis in adults
About 80% of all adult meningitis are caused by N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae. People over 50 years of age have an increased risk of meningitis caused by L. monocytogenes.
- Bacterial meningitis and people with skull damage implanted devices
People who received a recent trauma to the skull are at increased risk of bacteria in their nasal cavity entering the meningeal space. Patients with a cerebral shunt or related device also run a higher risk of infection with staphylococci andpseudomonas through those devices.
- Bacterial meningitis and weak immune systems
People with weak immune systems are also at higher risk of infection with staphylococci and pseudomonas.
Having read all of the above facts about meningitis you will come to know that we are the cause of our own problem. The main causative agent in meningitis is bacteria, and we know bacteria and dirty environment is like 5 and 6. I see a connection between dirty environments which might have been as a result of poverty to have been the case in the outbreak in Zamfara. Yes Zamfara state as statistic shows is one of the poorest states in Nigeria. So not only that God might be punishing us for our sins but also our government who choose to keep hoarding our money in ikoyi and abroad causing abject poverty everywhere, our carefree attitude of dumping refuse anywhere we see.
Am entitled to my own opinion so share yours what you think about Gov.yaro’s statement
