Thursday, May 7, 2026 - The Sokoto State Government has confirmed the death of 33 children following a fresh outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in parts of the state, as health authorities battle a growing number of infections.
Cerebrospinal meningitis is a deadly infection that causes
inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
It spreads more easily during the dry and hot season,
particularly in overcrowded communities with poor ventilation.
Northern Nigeria, including Sokoto State, falls within
Africa’s “meningitis belt,” a region known for recurring outbreaks.
Confirming the outbreak, Commissioner for Health, Faruk
Abubakar, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy meeting with district
heads on SARMAAN and MNTE.
The meeting was organised by the State Primary Healthcare
Development Agency in collaboration with Sightsavers and the Chigari
Foundation.
The commissioner stated, “No fewer than 256 suspected cases
have been recorded across eight local government areas since the outbreak
resurfaced about a month ago.
“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.”
Abubakar said most of the deaths occurred in communities
before victims could be taken to health facilities, blaming delayed treatment
and widespread misconceptions that the illness is spiritual rather than a
serious medical emergency.
Symptoms of meningitis often include sudden fever, severe
headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion and
convulsions.
Health experts warn that without urgent treatment, the
disease can lead to death within hours or cause permanent complications such as
hearing loss, brain damage or paralysis.
To curb the spread of the disease, the state government, in
partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders),
established isolation centres at the General Hospitals in Dogo Daji and
Tambuwal, with separate wards for male and female patients.
He added that although only about 20 laboratory samples have
tested positive so far, patients brought in early have responded well to
treatment, with no recent deaths recorded since intensified interventions
began.
However, findings from the Dogo Daji isolation centre
indicate that the outbreak remains active.
A nurse at the facility, who spoke anonymously because he
was not authorised to comment publicly, revealed that 22 patients are currently
on admission.
“We are discharging recovered patients daily, but new cases
keep coming in. Today alone, two patients were discharged and immediately
replaced by two fresh admissions,” the source said.
He noted that the centre currently operates two wards—one
for male patients and another for female and paediatric cases, but rising
admissions may force the opening of an additional ward.
“The cases are increasing, and we may need another ward to
separate female and paediatric patients,” he added.
The nurse also praised the level of support at the centre,
saying doctors, nurses, health promoters and hygiene personnel are fully
deployed.
He stressed that treatment is completely free, with patients
receiving medication, meals and transportation support after confirmation of
their cases.
“Patients pay nothing. Everything is free, including
sanitary pads,” he said.
Despite ongoing interventions, the facility recently
recorded two deaths.
One victim was a boy under five identified as Amir, while
another, Nura Jabo from Jabo town, died while being referred to Usmanu
Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital after his condition deteriorated.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of Specialists
Hospital, Sokoto, Dr. Attahiru Sokoto, confirmed that the hospital earlier
received meningitis patients from Badon Barade community in Wamakko Local
Government Area about two weeks ago.
“All the patients were treated at our isolation centre and
have since been discharged. As of today, we have no patient on admission,” he
said.
Authorities have continued to urge residents to seek
immediate medical attention once symptoms appear and to ignore false beliefs
surrounding the disease as efforts to contain the outbreak intensify.
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