The Yobe State Ministry of Health and Human Services has confirmed that seven persons died as a result of a cerebrospinal meningitis epidemic in the state’s Potiskum town.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Isa Bukar, announced this on Tuesday when briefing the State Deputy Governor, Idi Barde Gubana, who was visiting the State Specialist Hospital in Potiskum.
He stated that 214 instances of the sickness have been reported in the area, including several public boarding institutions.
He revealed that three more victims are now receiving medical treatment in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
Hussaini Mai Suleh, Press Secretary to the State Deputy Governor, stated that the deputy governor has directed health officials in the region to prevent the sickness from spreading to neighbouring schools and villages.
He praised the Ministries of Health and Human Services, Basic and Secondary Education, the World Health Organisation, and the Potiskum local administration for their prompt responses.
Meanwhile, in response to a meningitis outbreak in some public boarding schools in Potiskum, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Muhammad Sani Idriss, has announced that the ministry will temporarily relocate to Potiskum to investigate the cause of the outbreak and monitor schools.
The commissioner made the news while leading a delegation to several of the impacted boarding schools being investigated.
cc: Daily Post Ng
