The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has reported 13 cases of Dengue fever in Sokoto State, igniting anxieties about the low level of awareness among Nigerians regarding the mosquito-borne illness.
The NCDC, through its official website, on Monday revealed that there were 64 suspected cases recorded in Sokoto from three Local Government Areas.
Dengue virus, DENV, is a leading mosquito-borne virus with a wide geographical spread and a major public health concern. DENV serotype 1 (DENV-1) and serotype 2 (DENV-2) were first reported in Africa in 1964 in Ibadan, Nigeria.
The virus, which originated from monkeys and spilt over to humans, was restricted to Africa and Southeast Asia until the mid-20th century.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has an abundance of the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is known to transmit dengue, Zika, as well as chikungunya (CHIKV) and West Nile viruses.
The Nigerian Public Health Institute said the outbreak was detected in November 2023 with zero fatality recorded in Sokoto State.
The agency revealed that the majority of the suspected cases registered affected persons in the age range of 21 to 40 years.
According to the agency, Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus and transmitted to humans through the infected mosquito’s bite. Human-to-human transmission of the virus has not been established.
“The virus is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas worldwide.
“Most people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and will get better in one to two weeks. “
