26 Die Of Meningitis In Kebbi

No fewer than 26 people have been confirmed dead from suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis, while 248 cases were recorded in four local government areas of Kebbi State.

The local government areas affected include Aleiro with 6 deaths, Gwandu 15, Jega 6, and Argungu 1 death.

Briefing newsmen yesterday 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 a result, two samples turned positive while nine are pending.

According to the commissioner, the state government has taken proactive measures by distributing drugs and other commodities to the affected LGAs, setting up isolation centres, and as well sample collection training for clinicians across the local government areas was sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The commissioner 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.

He said the state government has also provided N30million to procure drugs and other consumables for the response activity to cushion the effect.