No fewer than 34 persons have lost their lives, while 254 others have been infected following a eningitis outbreak affecting nine local government areas in Sokoto State.
The state commissioner for health, Faruk Abubakar-Wurno, disclosed the development to journalists on Wednesday, explaining that the disease had spread to several communities and triggered an emergency government response.
According to NAN, Abubakar-Wurno stated that many of the deaths happened at home before authorities stepped in, adding that some residents linked the illness to spiritual causes or mysterious circumstances, which delayed timely medical treatment and intervention.
He explained that isolation centres had been set up in Dogondaji and Kurawa communities located in Tambuwal and Sabon Birni LGAs. He further revealed that all 201 patients who received treatment at government-owned health facilities had been discharged.
The commissioner identified the affected LGAs and corresponding number of cases as follows: Dange-Shuni (26), Kebbe (16), Shagari (51), Tambuwal (34), Wamakko (60), Sabon Birni (63), Bodinga (2), Kware (2), and Gada (1).
Abubakar-Wurno also disclosed that samples were sent for laboratory analysis, noting that 16 results came back negative, while eight meningitis cases were confirmed, confirming the spread of the disease within the affected communities.
He said the government had stepped up public sensitisation campaigns, encouraging residents to sleep in properly ventilated environments or outside their compounds where possible to limit transmission, especially during periods of extreme heat.
The commissioner further stated that children between the ages of one and 15 were the most affected by the outbreak.
He added that overcrowded living conditions and the dry seasonal winds had significantly increased the risk of transmission, creating wider public health concerns across northern Nigeria.
He added that the state government had strengthened disease monitoring through surveillance officers, while also improving access to laboratory testing and medications and enhancing laboratory capacity for faster detection and confirmation of cases.
