By Habibu Harisu
The Sokoto state government has confirmed the death of two students of Government Girls College Sokoto and infection of 70 others following an outbreak of gastroenteritis.
The state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Kulu Haruna confirmed th development at a news conference in Sokoto on Friday.
According to her, the school has been closed and 20 students were presently at the isolation centre to prevent the spread of the disease.
While further confirming that the incident occurred from March 24, and the infected students were taken to the hospital for treatment, Dr Haruna however dismissed speculation that the outbreak was caused as result of students congestion following the relocation of some students from closed schools in border communities because of banditry.
She refuted that the school had poor sanitary and water supply system, stressing that no borehole is unhealthy or had salted water.
The Commissioner commended Governor Aminu Tambuwal for his immediate response to the problem, adding that more medical and auxiliary health workers were deployed that promptly addressed the situation.
Haruna said no teacher was affected and the school was shut to prevent spread and properly appraise the problem.
”The situation was brought under control due to the quick intervention of the state government and all the infected students have been isolated to curtail the spread of the disease,” she said.
NAN
