26 dead, 248 suspected cases as Meningitis hits four Kebbi LGAs

About 26 people have reportedly died of a suspected case of Cerebrospinal Meningitis, while 248 were recorded in four local government areas of Kebbi State.

Briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, the State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Yunusa Ismail, stated that, following the outbreak in some local government areas, eleven samples were taken and sent to the National Reference Laboratory Abuja for confirmation and as result, two samples turn negative while nine are pending.

The local government areas where the death occurred include Aleiro with 6 deaths, 15 in Gwandu and Argungu with 1 death.

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According to the Commissioner, the state government has taken proactive measures by distributing drugs and other commodities to the affected LGA’s, set up isolation centers and as well sample collection training for clinicians across the local government areas was sponsored by world Health Organization (WHO).

He called on the people of the state to immediately report to the nearest health facility when sick, avoid sleeping in overcrowded rooms, maintain proper personal hygiene, and ensure the cleanliness of their environment.

The Commissioner said the state government has also provided thirty million naira to procure drugs and other consumables for the response activity to cushion the effect.

Ismail said that immediately, a positive confirmation of the disease from the NRL Abuja reached the Ministry, they will request the vaccines from the national to ensure citizens of the state are vaccinated.