By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has released N30 million to combat the...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has released N30 million to combat the spread of a suspected cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in four local government areas of the state.
Addressing a press conference in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Isma'ila, identified the affected LGAs as Gwandu, Jega, Aliero, and Argungu.
He stated that the N30 million fund would be used to procure drugs and other medical supplies to mitigate the impact of the disease.
Although the disease has yet to be officially confirmed as cerebrospinal meningitis, Isma'ila revealed that at least 26 people had died in the affected areas.
“In week seven, we faced an unfortunate outbreak with a rising number of cases beyond normal levels, characterized by symptoms such as fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and sensitivity to light,” he explained.
He disclosed that 248 suspected cases had been recorded, with 11 samples sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja for confirmation.
"Two sample results—one from Jega and another from Gwandu—tested negative for meningitis, while nine others are still pending at the laboratory," he added.
Providing a breakdown of the fatalities, Isma'ila confirmed that 15 deaths occurred in Gwandu, six in Jega, four in Aliero, and one in Argungu.
To curb the spread of the disease, he noted that the state government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), had embarked on advocacy visits to key stakeholders.
As part of the response efforts, drugs and medical supplies have been distributed to the affected LGAs, and isolation centers have been established in Gwandu, Jega, and Aliero.
Isma'ila urged the public to comply with health guidelines and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility for prompt intervention.
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