CSM Outbreak in Sokoto: Situation now under control; Death toll hits 31; Signs and symptoms not witch craft; 500 persons saved; We’ve deployed medical workers to treat victims……Commissioner

The outbreak of Celebro Spinal Meningitis CSM which has so far  claimed 31 lives in Sokoto state has been brought under total control.

Five hundred lives have also been saved after successful treatment of victims of the disease.

Disclosing this Thurday in Sokoto at a press conference, the State  Commissioner of Health, Dr Shehu Balarabe Kakale said the total control of the CSM outbreak was achieved through concerted efforts and intersectoral collaboration of ministries, departments and agencies in the state.

Explaining steps taken by his Ministry to mitigate the effects of the outbreak and break the transmission cycle, Dr Kakale said massive statewide public health education and enlightenment on CSM was ongoing.

He said the general populace have been directed to report to the nearest health facility if they have signs and symptoms or any form of febrile illness.

The Commissioner said his Ministry has dispatched and deployed fully kitted fifteen specialised healthcare teams comprising of Doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and other health workers to CSM hot spots across the state for surveillance, case definition, case management and contact tracing.

According to him, the state has also embark on mobilization for a massive statewide vaccination campaign against the disease adding that the state was still on high alert aimed at mitigating the outbreak.

He urged the people of the state to discountenance beliefs of witch craft as causes of febrile illness and stiffness as these are signs and symptoms of meningitis.