An unknown disease announced by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC on April 9 has now spread to Kaduna State. Some of the identified symptoms of the strange disease include fever, abdominal swelling and pain, vomiting, and weight loss.
The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris held an emergency meeting with Commissioners for Health from Sokoto and Kaduna States at NCDC Headquarters in Abuja to address the unknown illness.
He also spoke virtually with the Zamfara State Commissioner for Health aimed at unraveling the root cause and mitigating the impact of the disease in Sokoto, Zamfara, and now Kaduna States.
Dr. Idris announced that as of April 16th, a total of 196 suspected cases of the unknown illness with seven (7) deaths had been reported across Isa, Sabon Birni, and Illela Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Sokoto State.
“Results of their analyses on the various samples sent to the different sister laboratories, including NIPRID, NAFDAC, and NIMR, are being awaited.”
“Following reports of similar cases in Kaduna State, another National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) will be deployed this week to assess the situation and provide support to the state,” he said.
The DG of the NCDC urged affected and nearby communities in Kaduna State to report any symptoms of the strange disease to the nearest health facility or call the NCDC’s toll-free line (6232). In contrast, healthcare workers should report any suspected cases.
In their separate responses the Commissioners Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, Dr. Aisha Anka, and Hajiya Umma Ahmed from Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kaduna also provided updates on the response efforts.
They agreed with the DG of NCDC on further measures adopted to contain and mitigate the impact of the illness suspected to be heavy metal poisoning, possibly linked to mining activities.
On April 9, the NCDC launched an investigation into the unidentified disease, which had killed 164 children between the ages of 4 and 13 years in Sokoto State.
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