OUTBREAK OF A STRANGE ILLNESS IN EKOKO, TUTIJINBA, BANIN BIDA, LARUTA AND EDOGIFU AREAS OF BIDA – A CALL FOR URGENT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
This is to intimate Bida Local Government chairman, Niger State Ministry of health, His Excellency Farmer Governor Umaru Bago and center for disease control about an outbreak of a strange illness in the above mentioned areas of Bida Local Government. However, the strange illness is more common in Laruta area.
This strange illness that has no warning sign is spreading like wild fire and has so far affected nearly 50 persons.
An hitherto very healthy individual will just suddenly fall down and slump into near coma stage just like that.without any warning sign. The symptoms after attack includes slumping into coma for several days, feverish conditions, weakness and numbness of the body nerves, inability to walk or talk coherently after waking up and few patients were foaming as at the time of attack.
Several of the affected patients were successfully treated at Umaru Sanda hospital (allegedly with typhoid fever drugs) and few at FMC Bida while few were also referred to Gwagwalada specialist hospital and National Hospital, Abuja.
While only one patient was allegedly reported dead.
So far, there is total absence of Government intervention. Bida Local Government chairman was reported to have sent health team but nothing has been heard about them. No body is talking to the citizens of the affected areas and there is total lack of sensitization / proper diagnosis of the strange illness.
Presently, there is panic in the affected areas as some of the citizens are secretly sneaking out to neighbouring towns/ villages. If the disease is airborne, then, the state and the nation at large may be exposed to serious danger
We therefore, call on the authorities concerned to please come to our rescue.