The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has announced the spread of a mysterious illness from Sokoto and Zamfara States to Kaduna, with a death toll now standing at seven.
Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of the NCDC said there’s a total of 196 suspected cases in the affected regions since the first detection on 21 March.
The disease, which first appeared in the Isa, Sabon Birni, and Ilella Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Sokoto State, prompted the NCDC to convene a critical meeting with health commissioners from Sokoto, Kaduna, and via phone with Zamfara’s Commissioner for Health.
The focus of these discussions was to assess the outbreak and strategize containment efforts.
Dr Idris detailed the emergency measures during a visit to the Sokoto Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
Presentations covered various aspects of the outbreak response, including case management, surveillance, and community engagement.
“We are facing challenges, particularly with limited diagnostic capabilities, which have hindered our understanding of the disease,” said Idris.
The meeting drew participation from major health stakeholders including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), eHealth Africa, and several other organizations, reflecting a robust collaborative effort to tackle the outbreak.
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Dr Idris highlighted ongoing efforts with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) to pinpoint the exact nature of the disease.
“Results of these studies are expected imminently, and will be crucial in guiding our next steps,” he assured.
The NCDC also noted the importance of community support, with Dr. Idris mentioning a visit to the Sultan of Sokoto who expressed solidarity with the containment efforts.
“The Sultan’s support is vital in ensuring community cooperation, which is critical in these situations,” Idris stated.
In addition to government and health sector collaboration, public awareness and adherence to safety protocols are being emphasized to prevent further spread of the disease.
The NCDC is urging vigilance and cooperation from all parties to manage and hopefully contain this mysterious illness effectively.
