Strange illness hits Niger State as 24 residents are hospitalised
An outbreak of a strange illness causing sudden collapse and loss of communication abilities has hit residents of Bida in Niger State with about twenty-four persons reported to have been hospitalised.
Penpushing reports that a resident stated that the strange ailment which has triggered widespread anxiety in the community, has been reported in multiple areas, including Laruta, Ekoko, Tutijiba, Banin, and Edogifu.
The residents, including Abdulmalik Umar whose two brothers were affected, however shared harrowing accounts of the illness, explaining that people collapsed suddenly without warning, while some who go to bed healthy, woke up critically ill and unable to speak.
Penpushing further reports that Umar added that symptoms range from an inability to communicate to partial paralysis, with most victims receiving treatment for malaria and typhoid, just as eyewitnesses reported that some patients exhibited severe symptoms, including prolonged unconsciousness, fever, weakness, numbness, and foaming at the mouth.
The Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Bello Tukur, attributed the illness to untreated severe malaria and typhoid, just as sources said 20 of the patients were discharged after spending more than a week receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital in the town.
Penpushing also reports that Tukur explained that the outbreak was first reported on January 9, 2025, with cases peaking by January 19, emphasizing that preliminary blood tests revealed poorly treated malaria and typhoid fever as the likely causes.
‘The State Rapid Response Team, alongside local health officials, investigated the outbreak and confirmed 24 cases. Three patients remain under observation, while 20 others have been discharged. No fatalities were recorded’, Tukur said.
Penpushing reports that the Commissioner explained that to curb the outbreak, the state government has begun a sensitisation campaign on hygiene practices and nutrition, stressing that active case searches were underway in affected communities.
“Active case searches were underway in affected communities, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been notified for further laboratory analysis. The State Government is committed to addressing this health emergency. We are working closely with the NCDC and other health partners to ensure the safety of our residents’, Tukur added.
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