The Zamfara State Government has officially confirmed Dengue fever as the disease responsible for the outbreak in Shinkafi, Moriki, and neighbouring communities, following laboratory investigations that recorded 366 suspected cases and 46 deaths.
Thirty cases were confirmed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests conducted at the Molecular Laboratory of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.
The Director of Public Health at the Zamfara State Ministry of Health, Dr Yusuf Haske, disclosed this during the second phase of an investigative visit to the affected communities in the Shinkafi Local Government Area.
The breakdown of reported cases indicates that the Shinkafi Local Government Area recorded 123 cases, with 38 deaths; Zurmi recorded 171 cases, with eight deaths, while Birnin Magaji recorded 72 cases.
Concerned by the rising number of infections and reported fatalities, Governor Dauda Lawal had directed the Ministry of Health to conduct an extensive investigation into the outbreak, particularly in the worst-affected communities of Shinkafi, Moriki and Zurmi.
The investigative team is now prioritising case management, vector control, active case searches, community sensitisation, and referrals for patients with complications.
The team began its visit at the Shinkafi Local Government Secretariat, where it interacted with health officials to assess the situation and review ongoing response measures.
At Emir’s Palace, the team formally announced Dengue fever as the cause of the outbreak and presented medical supplies, including essential drugs and consumables, to support the emergency response.
The team also visited Shinkafi General Hospital, where some of the affected patients are currently receiving treatment.
The medical director of the hospital, Dr Aminu Garba, explained the severity of the outbreak and outlined measures being implemented by the facility to manage affected patients.
The affected communities have also been urged to maintain environmental cleanliness, eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and adopt preventive measures to reduce the spreading of the disease in the affected communities and beyond.
(Follow AIT News on WhatsApp, AfricaIndependentTV on YouTube, ait_online on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter), and officialait on TikTok, Instagram and Threads)
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
