FROM SAMSON ALFA, Minna
Barely one week after Dikko town, Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State gained widespread media attention over petrol tanker explosion that killed about 100 people and injured over 50, there is panic in Bida as two persons have died of a strange illness that has also led to 24 patients hospitalised.
AljazirahNigeria gathered that no fewer than 20 of the affected patients have been discharged after more than a week of treatment at the Federal Medical Centre and Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital, Bida.
The strange illness has so far spread to Ekoko, Tutujinba, Laruta and Edogifu areas ot Bida, the headquarters of Bida Local Government Area, Niger State.
According to hospital sources the patients manifested symptoms that includes slumping into coma for several days, feverish conditions, weakness and numbness, inability to walk or talk coherently as well as foaming from mouth.
Several of the patients were successfully treated at Umaru Sanda Hospital, FMC Bida and those in severe conditions were referred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital and National Hospital, Abuja.
Residents in the affected are relocating to neighbouring towns and villages over fear of infectious disease suspected to be airborne.
When contacted for comment the strange disease, the state Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Bello Tukur, said the illnesses was as a result of poorly treated typhoid and malaria judging from test conducted on blood samples.
Tukur, said that “the Disease Surveillance Unit, Public Health Department, Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, Niger State, received information on an outbreak of a strange illness in Bida LGA on 19th January 2025″.
He added that the state Rapid Response Team, RRT, led by the Assistant State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, conducted an investigation on January 20, 2025, alongside the local government team.
“Symptoms observed in the patients included sudden onset of weakness, loss or altered consciousness, with or without fever. Total patients on admission were three—two at FMC Bida and one at Umaru Sanda Ndayako Hospital, Bida. Others in the hospitals have been discharged”, he said.
Contrary to news reports, the Commissioner said that no deaths were recorded in the outbreak and that all patients were treated within Bida.
“The total number of cases was 24: four on admission and 20 discharged. The State Government and Bida LGA have sensitised residents on environmental hygiene, personal hygiene, and adequate nutrition”, he stated
Besides, Tukur confirmed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, had been notified and that further laboratory investigations were underway.
