ABUJA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of an outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) across four local government areas in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi has risen from 26 to 56, health authorities said on Wednesday.

Musa Ismaila, health commissioner in Kebbi, told the media in the state capital of Birnin Kebbi that the number of suspected cases has also risen to 653 from 248 reported over a week ago.

The outbreak, declared in late January, became more deadly in the past two weeks with a sudden rise in suspected cases, Ismaila said earlier.

"The public health department started receiving reports of people with symptoms of fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and associated vomiting and dizziness, which in some of the cases resulted in deaths," the health official said, adding that drugs and other commodities have also been distributed to affected local government areas and communities, as the state government continues to work to contain the situation.

CSM outbreaks are mostly caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A. In Nigeria, these outbreaks typically occur during the dry season due to low humidity and dusty conditions and usually subside with the onset of the rainy season. Enditem

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