Sokoto State has directed all clinicians to maintain a strong suspicion of Dengue fever in patients with fever, headaches, joint pains, body aches, and rashes following the outbreak of dengue fever that claimed eight people lives in the state.
This is contained in a public health advisory statement issued by the State Ministry of Health and signed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Farouk Abubakar.
According to the statement, health authorities had observed increasing reports of fever and severe malaria-like symptoms across several communities.
The statement quoted the health Commissioner urging all healthcare workers to be on high alert and intensify surveillance and case-management efforts
especially when malaria rapid diagnostic tests return negative or symptoms persist despite treatment.
The statement directed all healthcare workers to maintain proper waste disposal, and support community sensitization on environmental sanitation to curb mosquito breeding.
Radio Nigeria gathered that residents of the affected areas had for the past two months, been raising concerns over an unusual number of deaths recorded in their communities.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that several people had died as a result of the outbreak.
NASIR MALALI
