Micah Jonah
February 1, 2026
The Kano State Government has launched an investigation into reported cases of diphtheria and cerebrospinal meningitis in Gamji Village, located in Garko Local Government Area of the state.
The verification exercise was carried out by the Kano State Centre for Disease Control following reports that several residents of the community had died from symptoms linked to the suspected diseases.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Director General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said the agency immediately deployed a team of medical and public health professionals to the affected community to assess the situation and provide urgent intervention.
According to the statement, the response team conducted extensive case management activities, community sensitisation, and sample collection to determine the true nature of the reported illnesses.
The team was divided into four groups, carried out house to house visits across Gamji Village to ensure full coverage of the community. During the exercise, residents showing symptoms of illness were identified, clinically assessed, and had samples taken for laboratory analysis to confirm the cause of the infections.
Professor Abbas explained that free medications were administered to affected residents as part of immediate response measures, while basic medical advice was provided to households with suspected cases to help manage symptoms and reduce health risks.
He noted that the intervention was aimed at preventing further spread of communicable diseases, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening early detection within the community.
Residents were also sensitized on the importance of promptly visiting health facilities whenever they experience symptoms of illness. The KNCDC team encouraged community members to report any suspected outbreak to health authorities for timely response and proper case management.
The sensitization exercise was extended to mosques within the community, where residents were educated on disease prevention, early reporting, and the need to cooperate with health officials during public health emergencies.
Professor Abbas reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to safeguarding public health and assured residents that the situation would continue to be closely monitored pending the outcome of laboratory test results, which will guide further action if necessary.
He recalled that the agency had earlier conducted similar public health awareness campaigns and distributed free medications in Durmawa and Tiga communities in Bebeji Local Government Area after reports of suspected diphtheria cases.
