The Kebbi State Government has confirmed an outbreak of meningitis in the state, with 56 deaths reported. Health officials have been working with international partners to contain the spread of the disease.
Dr. Shehu Koko, Permanent Secretary of the Kebbi State Ministry of Health, stated that out of 17 samples sent to the National Laboratory Reference Centre in Abuja, five tested positive for meningitis. This confirmed the outbreak in the state, affecting several local government areas.
To combat the spread, the Kebbi State Government, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has put emergency response measures in place. These include the opening of isolation centers in affected areas, the provision of vaccines from the Federal Government, and the supply of drugs from healthcare partners.
“We have opened isolation centers, equipped general hospitals in the affected towns with vaccines and treatment drugs,” Dr. Koko said.
In a swift response, Governor Nasir Idris approved N30 million for the procurement of drugs, disease surveillance, and payment of allowances to healthcare workers at isolation centers. Dr. Koko warned that relatives of infected patients should avoid treatment centers to prevent further spread.
“Regrettably, the death toll has risen from 26 earlier to now 56. If not for the quick intervention of the state government and our partners, the figures would have been more than this,” he noted.
According to official data, Kebbi State has recorded 653 suspected cases of meningitis so far. Of the 17 samples sent for testing, five came back negative, while five were confirmed positive, triggering the outbreak in four local government areas.
