Gombe State Government has confirmed the presence of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the state, following reports of a strange disease in Nafada Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, stated that investigation by the government revealed that the observed symptoms suggested CSM.
Dahiru then urged residents to report any suspected case of the disease to the nearest health facility for immediate action and intervention.
This advisory comes amid concerns and social media reports of a strange disease in Nafada and other LGAs, particularly those sharing borders with Yobe State where the outbreak has claimed at least 30 lives.
Addressing journalists, Dahiru cautioned against spreading rumors and stated the importance of adhering to standard guidelines for reporting public health incidents.
He clarified that while the situation was serious, the Incident Management System (IMS) would not be activated yet, as the state has not reached the threshold for a CSM outbreak, which requires ten confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the district per week.
Dahiru assured that proactive measures had been taken, including the activation of an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for suspected CSM cases.
