Thirty‑eight people have been confirmed dead by the Jigawa State Ministry of Health in an outbreak of cerebellum spinal meningitis (CSM) in the state. The disease has been recorded in seven local government areas (LGAs) that share a border with the Niger Republic: Babura, Maigatari, Suletankarkar, Birniwa, Gumel, Gwiwa and Yankwashi.
The state Commissioner of Health, speaking through the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr. Salisu Muazu, confirmed the deaths while fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday in his office in Dutse, the state capital. He described the type of CSM reported from the affected communities as “strange.” A total of 398 suspected cases have been recorded across towns and villages in the seven LGAs, affecting 56 political wards.
Dr. Muazu explained that the outbreak began in the LGAs bordering Niger and later spread to other villages and towns within those areas. “Last year we conducted an immunisation campaign against cerebellum spinal meningitis across the state, and we discovered the outbreak in these seven LGAs neighboring Niger Republic,” he said. Samples taken from patients were tested in a laboratory and identified as a new bacterium, type B, which is not the usual CSM strain familiar to the region.
In response, the state government, through the Ministry of Health, swiftly implemented treatment, control and prevention measures. A treatment centre was established at Gumel General Hospital, where all patients were referred and treated free of charge. Dr. Muazu reported that the situation is now under control, with daily cases reduced to one or two, and some days recording zero cases. “Since last Saturday until today we have recorded only one case,” he noted.
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