The Sokoto State Government has confirmed the death of 33 children following an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis across nine LGAs of Sokoto state.
The government said 254 were infected.
The state commissioner for health, Dr Faruk Abubakar-Wurno, who announced the development to journalists on Wednesday, said the outbreak had spread across multiple communities, prompting urgent government response efforts.
Wurno spoke to the media during an advocacy meeting with district heads on Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Children (SARMAAN) and Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE).
According to NAN, Abubakar-Wurno said most of the deaths occurred at home before government intervention, noting that several residents attributed the illness to spiritual beliefs or mysterious circumstances, delaying early treatment and proper medical attention.
The commissioner said isolation centres were established in Dogondaji and Kurawa communities in Tambuwal and Sabon Birni LGAs, adding that all 201 persons treated at government health facilities had been discharged.
He listed affected LGAs and the number of victims to include Dange-Shuni (26), Kebbe (16), Shagari (51), Tambuwal (34), Wamakko (60), Sabon Birni (63), Bodinga (2), Kware (2) and Gada (1), respectively.
Abubakar-Wurno said four samples were sent for testing, out of which 16 returned negative results, while eight cases of meningitis were confirmed, indicating the presence of the disease in communities.
He said the government had intensified awareness campaigns, urging residents to sleep in well-ventilated rooms or outside their compounds to reduce the spread of disease, which is often exacerbated by extreme heat.
He also noted that children aged one to 15 were most affected, while overcrowding and seasonal dry winds significantly increased transmission risks, raising serious public health concerns across northern states.
He added that the state government had intensified surveillance through disease surveillance officers and ensured laboratory testing and medication provision, while also strengthening laboratory capacity to improve case detection and confirmation.