There is an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in six local government areas of jigawa state.
Director Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHC), Dr Shehu Sambo, has confirmed.
The director made the confirmation while answering questions from media executives in Dutse, Jigawa State’s capital, shortly after flagging off the 2024 Polio Immunization exercise at the palace of the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Hamim Nuhu Sunusi.
Dr. Sambo explained that cases of the disease had been recorded early last week in some local government areas in the northern parts of the state.
According to him, “The local government areas where the outbreak was recorded shared boundaries with Niger Republic.”
The names of the six affected council’s are Babura, Birniwa, Malam Madori, Maigari, Kaugama and Suletankarkar.
“These are in the northern part of the state and share a direct border with Niger Republic, where we have isolated cases,” Sambo says.
The local government areas where the meningitis outbreak was recorded shared boundaries with Niger Republic
He noted that, “The local governments have fallen into what we call the Meningitis Belt. Presently, I can’t tell you the number of cases, but I can confirm to you that we have some cases, and all the cases have been isolated at general hospitals in those various local governments.”
Dr. Sambo maintained that “the government has already taken appropriate measures, and efforts are ongoing.
“All the cases have been isolated in the affected local governments. Even this morning, we dispatched teams with vaccines to go and start immunizing the target population in affected areas.”
The PHC director called on the people in the state to take precautionary measures against the disease by sleeping in well-ventilated areas and avoiding overcrowding in rooms and apartments while sleeping. “And people should also endeavor to report any signs and symptoms of the disease to the nearest health facility.”
Commenting on Polio, the director said a total of 1.9 million children under five are targeted to be immunized in this round of immunization exercises in the next four days.
He said, “As you can see now, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Dutse, Alh Mohammed Hamin Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi has just flagged off the 2024 polio eradication campaign starting from today (Saturday) to the next four days.”
“The campaign would be in the 27 local government areas, 278 political wards, and target 1.9 million children under five years. This is to further the immunity we have in Jigawa state. We can remember that we never had a wild poliovirus outbreak since the year 2012.”
“In his part, the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Hamim Nuhu Sunusi, has warned parents against rejecting the vaccine, saying that it endangers the others who were vaccinated.”
