The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, said the agency has begun an investigation and response to a strange illness identified in six wards in Sokoto State.

To assist the Sokoto State Ministry of Health in responding to the incidences, Idris stated that the organization has sent out a National Rapid Response Team.

During a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Idris said that the state ministry of health had notified the agency on March 21, 2024, about cases of children from the state's Isa Local Government Area exhibiting symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and weight loss, along with abdominal distension brought on by the rapid onset of abdominal fluids (ascites).

He noted that most of the cases are children aged four to 13 years, including some adults from different wards and settlements across the LGA.

He said, “The NCDC deployed a National Rapid Response Team to work with the State Ministry of Health to further investigate and respond to this incident. So far, a total of 164 suspected cases have been identified in six wards of Isa LGA Bargaja (22), Isa North (17), Isa South (98), Tozai (12), Tsabre (4), and Turba (11). 

Unfortunately, four deaths have been recorded among the suspected cases.
“A similar incident was previously documented in 2023, also without a definitive diagnosis.

“Currently, two suspected cases are currently receiving care in Uthman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, and one case was discharged on account of improved symptoms. 

"Four other suspected cases are also on admission at the Isa General Hospital, while about 130 cases are also receiving care either within the Primary Healthcare Centres or home care in the affected LGA.”

According to the director of the NCDC, the first clinical evaluation and inquiries into the cases admitted to the teaching hospital excluded an infectious cause for the incident, so more causes had to be looked for, including heavy metal tests.

Despite the security issues limiting access to the neighborhood, he stated the agency is cooperating with other relevant parties to assist the state government in actively seeking cases and containing the outbreak.

Additionally, he exhorted the residents of the impacted and surrounding areas to exercise caution and report anyone exhibiting symptoms to the closest medical institutions or by calling the NCDC's toll-free number.