Kano Health Ministry denies measles outbreak
Kano State Ministry of Health has contradicted the reported measles outbreak in the Kano Municipal local government area. Dr. Imam Wada Bello, the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, issued a statement through the ministry's Public Relations Unit refuting the earlier announcement. Despite confirmation from the Primary Health Care Coordinator, Aliyu Jinjiri Kiru, during a meeting of the Emergency Preparedness Response Committee, the ministry denies the existence of a measles outbreak in the specified area.
However, on Wednesday, Imam refuted the report, clarifying that specific procedures and criteria, including laboratory investigations, examinations, and an assessment of severity and the number of affected individuals, must be met before declaring a disease as an outbreak. Regarding Kano Municipal LGA, he stated that none of these procedures were conducted, emphasizing that the story lacks empirical and clinical evidence.
Imam urged people to dismiss the report and assured that the ministry remains vigilant, implementing necessary measures to contain the effects of potential diseases. He highlighted the preparedness of the ministry and its 44 LGA’s Emergency Preparedness Response (EPR) to promptly address outbreaks in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
He mentioned that the Surveillance Outbreak Response and Management System (SORMAS), a national dashboard summarizing Kano State's measles report from January to March 2024, outlined 697 suspected cases across 23 LGAs. Kano Municipal had the highest number, with 647 cases, and five samples were sent for laboratory testing, with none confirming positive.
The director clarified that Kano Municipal reported a high number of suspected cases due to the presence of Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital, which serves as a centralized facility for diagnosing and managing pediatric cases, including measles. He emphasized that this centralization led to higher reporting incidence in the LG compared to others.
When reached for comment, Aliyu Jinjiri Kiru, the Kano Municipal Primary Healthcare Coordinator, refuted having made any such announcement. He clarified that the misinformation stemmed from the emergency preparedness response meeting report, where the LGA's information unit inaccurately interpreted the data, erroneously suggesting a measles outbreak in the area.
Kiru explained that the agency had reported receiving suspected measles and diphtheria cases from health facilities within the LGA, including secondary facilities. The intention was to alert stakeholders and seek support for the Primary Healthcare (PHC) department in case the cases were confirmed.
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