Sokoto State government has expressed worry over the resurgence of dengue fever and, advised the public to take preventive measures to control the spread of the disease.
The state’s commissioner for health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, explained that dengue fever was a viral illness transmitted by the aedes mosquito, characterised by symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, and general weakness.
Hajiya Balarabe in a statement issued in Sokoto, said although no deaths or bleeding cases have been reported so far, the state Ministry of Health was urging the residents to take preventive measures seriously to curb the spread of the viral illness.
“In recent times, the Ministry of Health in Sokoto received reports of fever cases in many parts of the state that were not responding to standard malaria treatment.
“The ministry collected samples from the affected cases, and the results indicated the presence of the dengue virus in some cases,” she said.
The commissioner urged people to take necessary measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and encouraged the use of insecticide-treated nets for sleeping.
She urged the public to seek medical attention and directed health workers to be vigilant in diagnosing dengue fever and providing appropriate supportive measures.