Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak of dengue fever in Sokoto State. Director-General of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, who disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, observed that, so far, about 71 suspected cases, 13 confirmed cases and zero deaths had been reported in the state from three local councils Sokoto South (60 cases), Wamako (three) and Dange Shuni (one).
Adetifa noted that majority of the suspected cases reported fell between the ages of 21 and 40 years, adding that the cases were detected in November 2023.
He stated that the NCDC-led multi-sectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Technical Working Group, collaborating with partners and relevant stakeholders, conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide in-country preparedness activities.
The DG observed that the current risk level of the outbreak is moderate, based on a dynamic risk assessment, adding that there is adequate in-country capacity (including technical, health workforce and diagnostic) to respond effectively in the event of a large-scale outbreak.
“Nigeria has also responded to viral haemorrhagic fever epidemics like the Ebola Outbreak in 2014 and subsequently Lassa fever. The NEVHD TWG coordinates preparedness efforts for Ebola Virus Disease and other emerging viral haemorrhagic fever diseases,” the statement reads.
“This has built our preparedness and response capabilities for viral haemorrhagic fevers like the dengue virus over the years. There is a diagnostics capacity for the dengue virus at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto Teaching Hospital Laboratory Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology,”
He noted that the NCDC would proceed to optimise existing Lassa fever testing laboratories and others within the NCDC national laboratory network for DENV diagnosis to improve preparedness and readiness in the event of a large-scale outbreak.
Adetifa advised Nigerians, especially people living in Sokoto, to adhere strictly to preventive measures, such as wearing clothes that cover as much of the body as possible to avoid mosquito bites and sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets. He also urged the residents to use insect-repellent in sleeping areas and ensure proper sanitation to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.
