Kebbi State confirms 26 deaths from a suspected cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in Aliero, Gwandu, and Jega. The government, in collaboration with WHO, MSF, and UNICEF, has released N30 million for medical supplies and set up isolation centers. Residents are urged to report suspected cases.

The Kebbi State government has confirmed the deaths of 26 people following a suspected outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in three Local Government Areas (LGAs): Aliero, Gwandu, and Jega.

The confirmation was made by the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Ismaila, during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

"In week seven, we faced an unfortunate outbreak with a rising number of cases beyond the usual, exhibiting symptoms such as fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, and sensitivity to light," he stated.

"A total of 248 suspected cases were recorded. Eleven samples were taken and sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja for confirmation. Two results—one from Jega and another from Gwandu—came back negative, while nine sample results are still pending.

"As of now, 26 deaths have been recorded: 15 in Gwandu, 6 in Jega, 4 in Aliero, and 1 in Argungu," he explained.

The commissioner noted that an advocacy visit to stakeholders was conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

To mitigate the outbreak’s impact, the Kebbi State government has released N30 million for the purchase of drugs and other medical supplies.

"We have distributed drugs and other medical commodities to the affected local government areas," he added.

Furthermore, isolation centers have been established in Gwandu, Jega, and Aliero to manage cases, with additional drugs and medical consumables provided.

Ismaila urged the public to adhere to health guidelines and promptly report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility for immediate action. (NAN)