Twenty-three persons have been confirmed dead in a diarrhea outbreak across 13 local government areas of Sokoto State.

The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ali Inname, who confirmed the deaths said 265 people, most of whom reside in rural areas were so far affected.

Briefing newsmen on the outbreak on Tuesday, Inname added that, the disease was spreading because of visitation of patients by relatives.

“Relatives spread the disease after visiting their love ones who were affected,” he said

He added that the disease resurfaced in the state due to the contamination of drinking water in those places.

“There are many factors leading to the resurfacing of the disease one of which is the contamination of their main source of drinking water. You know most of the people living in rural areas openly defecate and now we are in a raining period. That is why their main sources of water became contaminated and the bacteria resurfaced in those areas.

“Another factor was visitation by relatives of the affected patients, this help in spreading the disease to neighbouring villages. So far we recorded 23 death and 265 people were so far affected,” he said

He noted that teams of medical personnel and Environmental health workers had been mobilized to the affected areas to treat patients and counsel residents on the need to restrict visitation and effectively take care of sources of their drinking water among other preventive measures.

He also cautioned health workers against treating patients at home.

The affected areas include, Rabah, Wurno, Dange Shuni, Kebbe, Gwadabawa, Tangaza and Isa.

Others were Bodinga, Wamakko, Silame, Illela, Sabon birni, and Yabo respectively.

(Daily Trust)

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