No fewer than 1,160 patients were treated while 25 people died from gastroenteritis-related problems from January to date in 18 local government areas of Sokoto State.
This was revealed by the Director of Public Health in the state Ministry of Health, Abdulganiyu Yusuf, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Sokoto.
Yusuf said 23 of the deaths occurred at home, while three patients died in health facilities.
He added that the ministry ensured an adequate response from its epidemiology center using the medicines and consumables provided by the state government.
He explained that cases of gastroenteritis, traditionally called cholera, are being treated in hospitals and primary health care centers in different locations, while the health centers are supplied with appropriate medications.
The director noted that during outbreaks, the ministry ensured surveillance, active case finding and social mobilization to quickly manage identified cases.
He said deaths and other cases were tracked by obtaining line lists as cholera is only confirmed through laboratory tests.
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However, he added that most patients suffered from diarrhea and lost weight at home before coming to the health center for treatment.
Yusuf said cases increased during the rains and currently decreased with 15 cases handled, including seven in Sokoto North, six in Silame and two cases in Kware local government areas, for a total of 15, as quoted by the state health commissioner.
NAN reports that Health Commissioner Asabe Balarabe told reporters that 25 people died and several more were hospitalized following the outbreak.
Balarabe said the cholera cases occurred in three council areas of Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas.
He revealed that the state is currently treating 15 persons with active cases from Sokoto North, Silame and Kware local government areas.
He said the 15 active cases were diagnosed through culture and sensitivity based laboratory testing and were confirmed to be active cases of the outbreak.
He described the state government's response to the outbreak as “swift and effective”, adding that medicines and other medicines have already been purchased and distributed to 18 local government areas as an intervention to reduce the spread.
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However, the absence of response teams and other isolated treatment points to limit the spread of suspected gastroenteritis outbreaks has become a source of concern for citizens of Sokoto State.
A health official who requested anonymity told NAN that suspected cases were being received and undergoing treatment procedures without directives on central treatment points or isolation.
Some residents, Musa Muhammad, Bello Isiyaku and Malami Muhammad, described the failure to isolate people, as well as designated centers and treatment points, as dangerous for outbreak management.
Meanwhile, a check by NAN correspondents in some affected areas revealed that the cases were being treated as normal routine ailments and they could not locate any response team or isolated areas meant to treat the outbreak patients.
(YAYA)