The Gombe State Government has officially confirmed the presence of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the state, following reports of a mysterious illness in Nafada Local Government Area.
Dr. Habu Dahiru, the Commissioner for Health, on saturday, revealed that investigations indicated symptoms consistent with CSM, prompting the government to take swift action.
Residents were urged by Dahiru to promptly report any suspected cases of the disease to the nearest health facility for immediate attention and intervention.
This announcement follows concerns and social media reports regarding the strange disease in Nafada and neighboring LGAs, particularly those bordering Yobe State, where the outbreak has tragically claimed the lives of at least 30 individuals.
Speaking to the press, Dahiru cautioned against spreading unverified information and stressed the importance of following established protocols for reporting public health incidents.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, Dahiru clarified that the Incident Management System (IMS) would not be activated yet, as the state has not met the criteria for a CSM outbreak, which necessitates ten confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the district per week.
Assuring proactive measures, Dahiru mentioned the activation of an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to handle suspected CSM cases, demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing the situation effectively and safeguarding public health.
