Gastroenteritis claims 92 lives in northwest Nigeria

A total of 92 people have died of gastroenteritis in Nigeria's northwestern state of Sokoto since October, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported on Sunday.

Sokoto State Deputy Governor Garba Mohammed was quoted as saying that the state government would now "take more measures" by supplying adequate drugs and other related medicines for the prevention and treatment of the disease.

According to the report, a recent outbreak of gastroenteritis in Lukuwa and Kaura-Kagara villages led to the death of five people. Many others have been sent to isolation camps set up by the local authorities for treatment.

The deputy governor, who paid an inspection visit to the camps in the two villages at the weekend, called on the people to keep a clean environment, ensure personal hygiene and boil water before drinking.

Thanks to a public keep-clean enlightenment campaign stepped up by the state government, "the disease has been brought under control now," said Sokoto State Health Commissioner Abubakar Amale.

Source: Xinhua