No fewer than 34 persons have died following a meningitis outbreak that has infected 254 residents across nine local government areas of Sokoto State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Abubakar-Wurno, disclosed this on Wednesday, saying the outbreak had affected several communities and triggered emergency response measures by the state government.
According to the commissioner, many of the fatalities occurred before victims could receive medical attention, as some residents initially linked the illness to spiritual attacks and other mysterious causes.
He revealed that isolation centres had been established in Dogondaji and Kurawa communities located in Tambuwal and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas to contain the spread of the disease.
Abubakar-Wurno added that all 201 patients who received treatment at government-owned health facilities had been discharged after recovery.
The affected local government areas include Dange-Shuni, Kebbe, Shagari, Tambuwal, Wamakko, Sabon Birni, Bodinga, Kware and Gada.
He explained that laboratory investigations confirmed several meningitis cases, indicating active transmission within the affected areas.
The commissioner described meningitis as a severe infection affecting the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, noting that the disease spreads mainly through respiratory droplets, especially in overcrowded and poorly ventilated environments.
He said the government had intensified public sensitisation campaigns, urging residents to ensure proper ventilation in their homes and observe preventive health measures during the dry season.
According to him, children between the ages of one and 15 years were the worst affected by the outbreak, while dry winds and overcrowding had contributed to the rapid spread of the disease.
Abubakar-Wurno further stated that surveillance activities had been strengthened across the state, with health officials deployed to monitor cases, improve laboratory testing and distribute essential medications to affected communities.
