The Yobe Government has dismissed a report that a strange disease claimed the lives of 200 youths in Potiskum and Nangere over the past two weeks.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammed Gana, while addressing newsmen on Monday in Damaturu said the ministry launched a thorough investigation upon receiving the reports.
“The state government deployed epidemiologists, health teams, primary healthcare directors and facility managers to the areas.
“Our investigations yielded no confirmation of such deaths,” Gana said.
He said despite the structures, health experts and professionals did not hesitate to embark on a proper investigation to ascertain the authenticity of the insinuation but nothing new apart from the known Cerebrospinal meningitis type ‘C’ disease which Yobe battled with and contained its spread through vaccinations and other efforts was discovered.
“It was brought to the notice of the ministry about the social media rumour that has gone around about the death of about 200 youths in Potiskum and Nangere in the last two weeks, and was associated with ‘Strange illness’.
“The Yobe State ministry of health before we confirm anything, we usually do our diligence to ensure that whatever we say is not only the facts but accurate.
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“Upon receiving the report, we mandated the state epidemilogists supervised by the state director of public health who are responsible for management and control of all outbreaks in the state.
He elaborated on the state’s ongoing efforts to combat Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), including a network of over 200 community health influencers.
Others are 78 active case search teams and over 1,000 volunteer community mobilisers supported by UNICEF.
“With this extensive infrastructure conducting active case searches across the state, it will be highly improbable for any significant health event to go unreported.
“We firmly assert that these reports are unfounded,” Gana added.
NAN
