Residents of Kurawa village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have raised the alarm over a suspected outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis, following a spate of deaths, particularly among children and teenagers.
Sources at the community health facility disclosed that the situation has deteriorated in recent days, with an estimated two to three fatalities recorded daily, mostly among individuals aged between two and 20 years.
The development has triggered anxiety in the community, as increasing numbers of residents reportedly troop to the facility in search of medical care for what many described as a “mysterious illness.”
A health worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the facility had become overwhelmed by the influx of patients.
“People come in large numbers every day seeking treatment. We are overstretched and still trying to understand what is responsible for the frequent deaths,” the source said.
Residents identified symptoms such as high fever, severe neck pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, unconsciousness and, in some cases, foaming from the mouth—signs commonly associated with meningitis.
According to another source, some victims reportedly complained of neck pain before losing consciousness, while several others died before a proper diagnosis could be made.
Community members said they were later advised to avoid sleeping in poorly ventilated rooms due to the intense heat, a condition believed to contribute to the spread of meningitis.
Despite the interventions, residents expressed fears that the situation had yet to improve, with some questioning whether the illness could be something other than meningitis.
“We were told it is meningitis, but the deaths have continued. People are beginning to wonder if it is something else,” a resident said.
However, a hospital source maintained that only three deaths were officially recorded at the facility, noting that many victims died at home, often within 24 hours of showing symptoms.
The village head, Mudassir Abdullahi Kurawa, confirmed the outbreak, stating that between 10 and 15 deaths had been recorded in the community alone, excluding neighbouring settlements.
“Most of the victims are children between the ages of two and 10. The outbreak started about three weeks ago,” he said, adding that 15 patients were admitted on Saturday, three of whom died shortly after arrival.
Reacting, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Faruk Abubakar Wurno, confirmed that the government had been notified of the development.
He said health officials had been deployed to the area to investigate the situation and provide necessary treatment free of charge, while noting that the exact number of casualties was yet to be determined.
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