The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak of dengue fever in Sokoto State.
A statement posted on the NCDC website, ncdc.gov.ng, and signed by its Director General, Ifedayo Adetifa, disclosed that the outbreak was detected in November 2023.
Adetifa stated that 71 suspected cases, 13 confirmed cases, and zero deaths have been reported in the state from three Local Government Areas -Sokoto South (60 cases), Wamako (3 cases) and Dange Shuni (1 case), adding that the majority of the suspected cases reported fall between the age range of 21- 40 years.
“The NEVHD TWG coordinates preparedness efforts for Ebola virus disease and other emerging viral haemorrhagic fever diseases,” the statement read in part.
According to him, the current risk level of the dengue outbreak is moderate based on a dynamic risk assessment.
“There is currently adequate in-country capacity (including technical, health workforce, and diagnostic) to respond effectively during a large-scale outbreak. Nigeria also responded to viral hemorrhagic fever epidemics like the Ebola Outbreak in 2014 and, subsequently, Lassa fever.
“This has built our preparedness and response capabilities for viral hemorrhagic fevers like the dengue virus over the years.
“Currently, 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.
“However, the NCDC will 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.”
Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus and transmitted to humans through the infected mosquito’s bite.
The virus is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas worldwide.
