Active surveillance was initiated, and samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) in Abuja for confirmation
By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has intensified efforts to contain the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis, CSM, in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Yunusa Musa Isma’il, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shehu Nuhu Koko, affirmed this during a press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
The briefing was attended by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Malam Yahaya Sarki, Executive Secretary of the Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad, and representatives of development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
According to Isma’il, the outbreak has so far claimed 56 lives across three local government areas of Jega, Aliero and Gwandu.
“The Public Health Department started receiving reports of individuals exhibiting symptoms such as fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, and dizziness, with some cases resulting in fatalities.
“Active surveillance was initiated, and samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) in Abuja for confirmation,” he explained.
He stated that out of 653 suspected cases, 17 samples were sent to NRL Abuja, with five testing positive—three from Aliero, one from Gwandu, and one from Jega.
All five positive cases were successfully treated and discharged, while seven results are still pending.
The commissioner further revealed that the federal government provided 3,000 doses of CSM vaccines, which have been distributed to the most affected communities.
Vaccination efforts have covered 1,550 people in Aliero (including the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology community), 798 in Gwandu, and 450 in Jega. He assured that statewide vaccination would continue as more doses arrive.
To support containment efforts, the state government has released ₦30 million for the procurement of drugs and essential medical supplies.
Isolation centers have also been established in the affected LGAs, with necessary medications and consumables provided.
Isma’il urged the public to adhere to health guidelines and promptly report suspected cases to the nearest health facility.