The Sokoto State Government has confirmed that 33 children have died following a cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in parts of the state.
The government said 256 suspected cases have so far been recorded across eight local government areas.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Abubakar, disclosed this during a health advocacy meeting organised by the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in partnership with Sightsavers and the Chigari Foundation.
According to him, the outbreak started about one month ago and has mostly affected children and teenagers.
Sabon Birni Local Government Area recorded the highest number of suspected cases with 63 infections, followed by Wamakko with 60 cases. Shagari recorded 51 cases, Tambuwal 33, Dange Shuni 26, Kebbe 16, while Bodinga, Gada and Kware recorded fewer cases.
Dr Abubakar said many victims died before getting to the hospital because some residents delayed seeking treatment. He also said some people wrongly believed the illness was caused by spiritual forces instead of understanding it is a medical emergency.
Residents of Kurawa village in Sabon Birni earlier raised alarm after several children and young people reportedly began dying from the disease.
Sources in the community said between two and three people were dying daily at the peak of the outbreak, mostly children and youths between the ages of two and 20.
Common symptoms reported included high fever, severe neck pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, unconsciousness and foaming from the mouth.
To control the outbreak, the state government, alongside Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), set up isolation centres at Dogo Daji and Tambuwal General Hospitals.
Health officials said treatment at the centres is completely free, including medication, feeding and other support for patients.
A health worker at the Dogo Daji isolation centre said new cases are still being recorded daily, although recovered patients are also being discharged.
He added that doctors, nurses and hygiene experts are working hard to stop the spread of the disease.
Despite the interventions, the centre recently recorded two more deaths, including a boy under five years old.
The Chief Medical Director of Specialists Hospital, Sokoto, Dr Attahiru Sokoto, however, said patients earlier admitted from Wamakko had been treated and discharged.
Medical experts explained that northern Nigeria falls within the “meningitis belt,” a region where weather conditions make outbreaks more common.
Professor Bello Magaji Arkilla of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital said overcrowding, poor ventilation and delayed treatment contribute to the spread of the disease.
He advised residents to seek medical help immediately if they notice symptoms such as fever, headache, neck stiffness or body pain.
He also urged people to avoid self-medication, maintain proper hygiene and take part in vaccination campaigns.
Health authorities in Sokoto continue to urge residents to ignore false beliefs about the disease and quickly visit hospitals for treatment as efforts to contain the outbreak continue.