The Kogi State Ministry of Health has described as misleading and confusing, a report of an outbreak of measles in the state.
The viral online report stated that over 50 cases of measles were recorded in the state.
In a statement by the ministry, the health commissioner, Dr. Zekeri Usman, expressed dissatisfaction over the report.
In a statement made available to newsmen Tuesday, the commissioner described the report as “misinformation and erroneous report”.
The statement reads in part, “You will recall that in the last two days, some section of electronic media has erroneously reported an outbreak of measles in the state. Therefore, it is important for us as a ministry to put the record straight as there Is no such outbreak currently ongoing in the state.
“The misinformation must have arisen from the measles sensitisation program held last week by the state Primary Health Care Development Agency during which the agency gave the statistics of measles cases reported in the state from January to date. It was a cumulative record of cases ever reported within the period of nine months (January to September).
“As we speak, there is no active case of measles in the state”.
Zekeri advised residents and citizens of Kogi State to disregard the report of the purported outbreak of measles affecting 52 persons in the state by some electronic and print media.
He said, “We will continue to collaborate and interface with the media in our usual way of informing the public of our health programs as well as giving out the right information as regards disease outbreaks in the state”.
He warned rumour peddlers to desist from circulating misleading information about Kogi State Government and all her agencies, as such will not be tolerated.
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