Sokoto — Two children have died following outbreak of gastro-enteritis in Gandi town, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State with a total of 70 cases of the disease so far recorded in the area.

However, only one person is presently on admission at the Gandi Primary Health Centre, officer in charge of the centre, Lawal Abdullahi disclosed.

According to him, the rest of the victims have been treated and discharged between August 19 to date.

A combined team of medical personnel from the state government, Rabah local council and the Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors without borders) were said to have brought the situation under control.

The District Head of Gandi, Alhaji Mohammed Maccido also confirmed the death of the two children and applauded the medical team for its prompt response to the situation.

But the local government chairman, Alhaji Zayyanu Bello said the ailment was not gastro-enteritis but either malaria or food poisoning adding, "it did not affect the whole town, it was in Gandi town and it was only two houses that were affected."

However Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu confirmed that the epidemic was gastro-enteritis and said the situation had been brought under control.