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Published on 2024-03-06 17:35:15
The Kano State Ministry of Health has recently debunked reports of a measles outbreak in the Kano Municipal and other local government areas of the state, dismissing the claims as unsubstantiated. The Ministry, through Dr. Imam Wada Bello, the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, clarified that certain criteria and procedures need to be met before declaring a disease outbreak, including laboratory investigations and assessments of reported cases.
Dr. Imam pointed to data from the Surveillance Outbreak Response and Management System (SORMAS) that indicated 697 suspected cases of measles in 23 LGAs, with Kano Municipal recording the highest number at 647. However, despite laboratory testing, none of the samples confirmed positive for measles. This led Dr. Imam to conclude that there was no empirical or clinical evidence to support the claims of a measles outbreak in the area.
He reassured the public that the Ministry is vigilant in monitoring and responding to public health threats, working closely with the 44 LGAs Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) to ensure timely and effective responses to outbreaks. He attributed the high number of suspected cases in Kano Municipal to the presence of the Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital, which serves as a centralized facility for diagnosing and managing pediatric cases in the state.
Aliyu Jinjiri Kiru, the Kano Municipal Primary Healthcare Coordinator, clarified that there was no formal declaration of a measles outbreak and that the reports were a misinterpretation of discussions during an emergency preparedness response meeting. The focus of the meeting was on receiving suspected measles and diphtheria cases from various health facilities within the LGA, with the aim of preparing for any confirmed cases.
It was emphasized that the purpose of alerting stakeholders was to ensure proactive measures were in place to handle any confirmed cases effectively. The misunderstanding was attributed to the misinterpretation by the information unit of the LGA, rather than any official declaration by the health authorities.
In light of these clarifications, the Ministry urged the public to disregard the reports of a measles outbreak in Kano State, highlighting the importance of relying on verified information and evidence-based data in public health matters. The Ministry remains committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of the people of Kano State, working to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases through comprehensive surveillance and response measures.
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