Nine persons have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of gastroenteritis in seven local government areas of Sokoto state.

The local government areas include Ilela, Gada, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Isa, Tureta, and Rabah

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Pharmacist Al Mustapha Othman Ali who confirmed on Friday noted that most of the affected local government areas border Niger Republic were earlier cases of similar diseases were reported.

He attributed the outbreak to the overflow of the rainfall into sources of drinking water.

“The worst hit of the LGAs is that of Tureta local government where we had 80 cases reported and about five deaths recorded,” he said.

In Rabah, he said three deaths were recorded at Gandi, which include two deaths at the Primary Healthcare centre and one death at IDP camp.

•Sourced from a Daily Trust report