- An outbreak of gastroenteritis in Sokoto State has resulted in 25 deaths, with health officials clarifying it is not cholera
- The state government is distributing drugs and deploying rescue teams to manage the outbreak and prevent further spread of illness
An outbreak of gastroenteritis in 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Sokoto State has claimed the lives of 25 individuals. The state’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Abdulganiyu Yusuf, provided this update while addressing misinformation regarding the situation.
Dr. Yusuf clarified that the deaths occurred over 11 months and not within a single outbreak. He emphasized that the cases should not be conflated with cholera, as laboratory tests confirmed only 15 cholera cases out of 1,160 reported instances of vomiting and diarrhoea.
“Some of the cases were even confirmed to be malaria,” he explained, noting that assumptions based on symptoms alone are insufficient for diagnosis without proper laboratory testing.
The director noted that many deaths occurred at home before patients could be taken to the hospital. However, he assured residents that the state government has taken steps to address the outbreak, including procuring and distributing drugs to affected areas.
The Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, also confirmed the outbreak and stated that rescue teams had been deployed to manage the situation and prevent its spread.
The state government has urged the public to prioritize hygiene and seek medical attention immediately when vomiting and diarrhoea occur.