Feb. 29, 2024

The Gombe government says it has recorded six deaths out of the 95 suspected cases of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in the state.

The state recorded suspected cases of the disease in Nafada and Funakaye Local Government Areas.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Gombe.

He said the ministry had deployed a medical team to Nafada, to contain the disease sequel to the report about cases with symptoms suggestive of CSM.

“Out of the 95 people admitted, 29 samples were collected, out of the number only two from Funakaye LGA were positive.

“Eighty four persons were treated and discharged, six people were still on admission,” he said.

Dahiru said the six deaths recorded were not enough to declare the disease as an outbreak because they have not reached the threshold for CSM, which is 10 confirmed cases in a population of 100,000 in one week.

He said the state in collaboration with partners activated an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) comprising the WHO, UNICEF, NCDC for suspected CSM, and also ruled out Lassa fever.

According to him, the EOC is saddled with the responsibility to control the spread of the detected CSM cases in Funakaye.

Dahiru said that EOC has deployed the state and local government Rapid Response Team (RRT), to engage traditional rulers in the affected communities on how to sensitise the public to the precaution against CSM.

“We will also sensitise religious leaders to CSM, to enable them to make announcements during worship sessions”.

The Commissioner said the ministry had supplied drugs and consumables for free management of suspected cases as well as sample collection for onward transmission to the NCDC laboratory in Abuja. (NAN)