Monrovia – Three people are reported to have died from Meningococcal disease in Kelimabendu Town, Foya District Lofa County, while one person is being hospitalized, according to the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
NPHIL was alerted of the disease by the Lofa County Health Team (LCHT) on Saturday, January 13, 2017.
NPHIL in a release said the initial case started with a 45-year-old man who fell ill on December 23, 2017 and died January 1, 2017.
Four days after his death, two of his children also died from the same disease while one was taken to the Foya Boma Isolation unit for treatment and was later discharge upon recovering from the disease.
“On January 13, 2018, the Lofa County Health Team (LCHT) notified the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of a cluster of unexplained health events including three deaths and one hospital admission from within one family in Kelimabendu Town, Foya District Lofa County”
The added that the NPHIL national reference laboratory confirmed the disease positive, stating that the disease is caused by bacteria called Neisseria Meningitidis.
NPHIL said the Neisseria Meningitidis causes infection of the brain and the blood and it is usually experience in Africa as Meningitis.
“Meningococcal disease typically includes meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal blood stream infection (Septicemia). The disease is treatable. Treatment must begin quickly to prevent death”
Common symptoms include: fever, fatigue, stiff neck, severe headache, vomiting among others,” the release noted.