By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
The Sokoto State Government has confirmed the death of 33 children following a fresh outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis, with health authorities battling rising infections across several parts of the state.
The Daily Crucible reports that meningitis outbreak in 2017 killed 489 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Nigeria’s Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 4,637 suspected cases at the time.
Meningitis is a serious infection of the thin membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can cause severe brain damage. “Serotype C,” a new strain of meningococcal meningitis, emerged in Nigeria in 2013.
The disease spreads rapidly during hot and dry weather, especially in overcrowded communities with poor ventilation.
If left untreated, meningococcal meningitis — the bacterial form of the disease — is fatal in up to 50 per cent of cases.
The WHO said vaccination remains the most effective measure against fatalities from the bacteria that causes the disease.
Sokoto, like many states in Northern Nigeria, lies within Africa’s notorious “meningitis belt,” where outbreaks are frequent.
Commissioner for Health, Faruk Abubakar, confirmed the outbreak on Wednesday during an advocacy meeting with district heads on SARMAAN and MNTE, organised by the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency alongside Sightsavers and the Chigari Foundation.
According to him, at least 256 suspected cases have been recorded in eight local government areas over the past month.
“Sabon Birni recorded the highest number with 63 cases, followed by Wamakko with 60, Shagari with 51, Tambuwal with 33, and Dange Shuni with 26. Kebbe reported 16 cases, while Bodinga, Gada and Kware recorded two, one and two cases respectively,” he said.
Abubakar blamed most of the fatalities on delayed medical attention and widespread misconceptions that meningitis is caused by spiritual attacks rather than a medical emergency.
Health experts say symptoms of meningitis include sudden fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, confusion, sensitivity to light and convulsions. Without urgent treatment, the disease can kill within hours or leave survivors with complications such as hearing loss, paralysis or brain damage.
To contain the outbreak, the state government, in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières, has established isolation centres at the General Hospitals in Dogo Daji and Tambuwal, with separate wards for male and female patients.
The commissioner noted that although only about 20 laboratory samples have tested positive so far, early treatment has improved survival rates, with no recent deaths recorded since emergency interventions were intensified.
However, findings at the Dogo Daji isolation centre suggest the outbreak is still active.
A nurse at the facility, who spoke anonymously, disclosed that 22 patients are currently receiving treatment.
“We discharge recovered patients every day, but fresh cases keep coming in.
Today alone, two patients were discharged and immediately replaced by two new admissions,” the source said.
The nurse added that the centre currently operates two wards — one for male patients and another for female and paediatric cases — but increasing admissions may require an additional ward.
Despite ongoing efforts, the facility recently recorded two more deaths, including a boy under five identified as Amir and another patient, Nura Jabo, who died while being referred to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital after his condition worsened.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of Specialists Hospital, Sokoto, Attahiru Sokoto, said the hospital had earlier treated meningitis patients from Badon Barade community in Wamakko Local Government Area.
“All the patients treated at our isolation centre have been discharged. As of today, we have no patient on admission,” he said.
Authorities have urged residents to ignore false beliefs surrounding the disease and seek immediate medical attention once symptoms appear as efforts to curb the outbreak continue.
