‘Strange disease’ kills 50 in Kogi

A strange disease, whose symptoms include diarrhoea, bloodstained vomiting and high fever, has killed 50 people at Okunran, Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa villages in Yagba West Local Government, Kogi State.

Initial reports had suspected Lassa Fever, but medics told Commissioner for Health Dr. Saka Audu, who visited the affected areas yesterday, that it was a strange disease.

“We initially suspected Lassa Fever after getting some misleading reports about people bleeding around. So, we made a diagnosis for viral haemorrhagic fever (Lassa fever), but the result was negative,” Dr. Jannette Hathorn, a Consultant at ECWA Hospital, Egbe told Audu.

She said the first case was that of a child of two and half years, who died 12 hours after he was brought to the hospital.

“We are sure it is not Lassa fever; but our concern is that we do not know exactly what is happening. We have not arrived at a definitive diagnosis.

“Two adult patients were also brought here; one showed symptoms of ulcer-viral illness, but there was no bleeding component of any haemorrhagic symptom.

“We isolated them and both of them were treated for malaria. When they started improving, we let them go.

“Another parent brought a child to the hospital and pleaded for help. He said 50 people had died in their village with similar symptoms of bloodstained vomiting, diarrhoea and fever.

“When the child died, we called the World Health Organisation (WHO). Yesterday (Wednesday), their officials came and took samples of everything; we must know exactly what we are dealing with,” she said.

Audu, who described the situation as “serious”, said the visit was to assess it, “especially since many lives have been lost to the disease”.

“We want to determine the cause of these mysterious deaths and then proffer solution to it.

“Government is committed to assisting the people, irrespective of how remote their settlements may be. We must ensure that we take healthcare to the door steps of rural dwellers.

“We want to reassure the people that government is with them and will take full responsibility of those who are already ill, so as to arrest the spread of this disease.

“For now, what is clear and confirmed is that it is not Lassa fever; but whatever it is, we will carry out further investigation and come up with definitive diagnosis,” Audu said.

He said the information about the outbreak of the strange disease came to government last week and a technical team was immediately sent to take samples, which were sent to General Hospital Irrua, Edo State, for definitive investigation.