Heightened Surveillance at Health Facilities as Sokoto Confirms Dengue Fever Outbreak
The Sokoto State Government has announced the detection of eight confirmed cases of Dengue Fever within the state capital, affecting areas in Sokoto North and Sokoto South Local Government Areas.
The confirmation was made public on Sunday through an official health advisory circulated to all public and private medical facilities.
According to the Ministry of Health, hospitals have been reporting a rising number of patients exhibiting severe fever and malaria-like symptoms, prompting authorities to intensify disease surveillance to prevent broader transmission of the mosquito-borne illness.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, said the state has activated emergency response measures to contain the spread, stressing that Dengue Fever often mimics malaria, but demands a different clinical approach.
“All health workers are placed on heightened alert and must consider Dengue Fever in patients presenting with persistent fever, headaches, joint or body pains, or skin rashes—particularly when malaria tests return negative or symptoms fail to improve after treatment,” the advisory stated.
The ministry has directed all health centres to immediately notify Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers of any suspected cases while ensuring proper laboratory sampling for confirmation.
Abubakar also warned medical practitioners against prescribing NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin for suspected Dengue cases due to the risk of internal bleeding, recommending paracetamol as the safer alternative for fever management.
The state urged hospitals to enforce strict Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, ensure safe disposal of medical waste, and educate communities on eliminating mosquito breeding habitats.
Health workers were encouraged to promptly report any unusual surge in fever cases, clusters of illness, or unexplained deaths to the Disease Surveillance Office or the State Epidemiology Unit.
“We call on all healthcare providers to remain vigilant and work closely with public health authorities to ensure swift detection and management of cases,” the commissioner said, commending frontline workers for their unwavering commitment.
Dengue Fever, transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, has recently resurfaced in parts of Nigeria, prompting increased monitoring by state and national health authorities.
