Alarm over ‘strange’ disease that has claimed four lives and sickened dozens of others in Nigeria

Four people have died and dozens have become ill in Nigeria due to a ‘foreign’ disease.

All cases occurred in Sokoto, in the northwest of the country, near the border with Niger.

Concerned health chiefs have now been sent to the area to investigate the nature of the disease.

Details about what the actual disease is are scarce.

Local media reported that people suffered symptoms such as fever, vomiting, sudden weight loss and swelling of the abdomen.

The deaths were all recorded as of March 21.

A total of 164 cases have been recorded across the area, mainly involving children between the ages of four and 13.

Of these, four patients were admitted to hospital.

Another 130 people have been treated at home or in local primary care centres.

At a press conference Tuesday in the country’s capital, Abuja, Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, said this is “remarkably not the first occurrence,” according to the Nigerian Observer .

He added: ‘A similar incident was documented in 2023. That happened without a conclusive diagnosis.

‘The results indicate varying levels of lead and chromium in blood samples, prompting investigation into local activities such as mining and agricultural practices that use chemicals.’

However, he noted, “The collaborative efforts extend beyond healthcare settings to include government agencies, research institutions and community stakeholders.

“Currently, security challenges hinder access to affected areas, complicating response efforts.”

Communities affected by the outbreak must be vigilant, he urged, and immediately report any symptoms to local health centers.

Nigeria has recently been hit by outbreaks of Lassa fever, with more than 150 deaths recorded across the country since January.

The rodent-borne disease is believed to cause no symptoms in 80 percent of patients and kills only one percent of those who become infected.

People usually become infected with Lassa fever after exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or feces from infected rats.

But the virus, which can make women bleed from their vaginas and cause seizures, can also be transmitted through bodily fluids.

Last year, the country also suffered a deadly diphtheria outbreak that killed more than 600 people, mostly children.

The highly contagious bacterial infection mainly affects the nose and throat. It can also infect the skin and cause painful lesions.