The Gombe state government reports that out of the 95 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the state, six deaths have been recorded.
Suspected cases of the disease were reported in Nafada and Funakaye Local Government Areas of the state. Dr. Habu Dahiru, the Commissioner for Health, made this announcement during a news conference held on Thursday in Gombe.
Dr. Dahiru mentioned that the ministry had dispatched a medical team to Nafada in response to reports of cases displaying symptoms indicative of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), aiming to contain the spread of the disease.
“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 clarified that the recorded six deaths did not meet the criteria for declaring the disease an outbreak, as they did not surpass the threshold for Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), which requires 10 confirmed cases in a population of 100,000 within a week.
He mentioned that the state, in conjunction with partners, activated an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), which includes the WHO, UNICEF, and NCDC, to address suspected cases of CSM and also ruled out the possibility of Lassa fever.
The EOC has been tasked with managing the spread of identified CSM cases in Funakaye. Dahiru noted that the EOC has deployed both state and local government Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to collaborate with traditional leaders in the affected areas to raise public awareness about preventive measures against CSM.
“We will also sensitise religious leaders to CSM to enable them to make announcements during worship sessions.”
The commissioner mentioned that the ministry had provided medications and essential supplies for the complimentary treatment of suspected cases, along with collecting samples for further analysis at the NCDC laboratory in Abuja.