N0 fewer than 34 persons have died out of 254 infected in a meningitis outbreak across nine local councils of Sokoto State, raising concerns among health authorities and residents.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Abubakar-Wurno, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in Sokoto, noting that the outbreak had spread across multiple communities, prompting urgent government response efforts.

Abubakar-Wurno said most of the deaths occurred at home before government intervention, as many residents attributed the illness to spiritual beliefs or mysterious circumstances, delaying early treatment and proper medical attention.

He said isolation centres were established in Dogondaji and Kurawa communities in Tambuwal and Sabon Birni local councils, adding that all 201 persons treated at government health facilities had been discharged.

He listed affected local government areas as Dange-Shuni (26), Kebbe (16), Shagari (51), Tambuwal (34), Wamakko (60), Sabon Birni (63), Bodinga (two), Kware (two), and Gada (one).

According to him, 24 samples were sent for testing, out of which 16 returned negative results, while eight cases of meningitis were confirmed, indicating the presence of the disease in communities.

He explained that meningitis was a serious infection affecting membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, spreading through respiratory droplets during close contact, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated environments.

He said the government had intensified awareness campaigns, urging residents to sleep in well-ventilated rooms or outside house compounds to reduce disease spread, often worsened by extreme heat conditions.

Abubakar-Wurno emphasised that children aged one to 15 were most affected, while overcrowding and seasonal dry winds significantly increased transmission risks, raising serious public health concerns across northern states.

This is coming a day after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) warned of a likely outbreak of meningitis, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion in 12 states of the federation.

The states of concern, according to the weatherman, are Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, and Adamawa.

NiMet stated that heat index projections showed critical heat levels across the north, central, and southern regions of the country.

The agency noted that temperatures in the northern states would range from 40°C to 45°C, the central states would have 35°C to 38°C, and the southern states between 33°C and 35°C.

In the heat stress alert issued yesterday, NiMet noted that the presence of fine dust particles over parts of the northern states, combined with extreme heat, increases health risks like heat exhaustion, heat stroke and possible meningitis outbreaks.