Strange new disease in Nigeria kills four, over 130 hospitalised

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the outbreak of an illness with an unclear cause in Sokoto state.

According to the agency’s Director General, Dr Jide Idris, to date, 164 suspected cases have been identified in six (6) wards of the Isa local government area, including Bargaja (22), Isa North (17), Isa South (98), Tozai (12), Tsabre (4), and Turba (11). Four deaths have been reported among the suspected cases.

He said that on March 21, 2024, the Sokoto State Ministry of Health notified the agency of cases of children from Isa LGA in Sokoto State presenting with symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and weight loss, as well as abdominal distension brought on by a sudden onset of fluids in the abdomen (ascites).

He said, “Most of these cases are children aged 4 – 13 years, including some adults. The patients came from different wards and settlements across the LGA.”

According to Dr Idris, the National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) has been sent out by the NCDC in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health to investigate and address this incident.

He stated that two suspected cases are currently receiving care at Uthman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto, and one case has been discharged due to improved symptoms, even though a similar incident was previously documented in 2023 and did not result in a definitive diagnosis.

He said, “Four (4) other suspected cases are also on admission at the Isa General Hospital, while about 130 cases are also receiving care either within the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) or home care in the affected LGA.

The director general of the NCDC stated that preliminary clinical evaluation and inquiries into the cases admitted to the teaching hospital excluded an infectious cause for the incident, thereby requiring the need to look for alternative causes, such as heavy metal testing.

According to him, the initial heavy metal test results for the index and the first few suspected cases showed varying levels of lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in the blood.

He continued by saying that additional tests were still being conducted to identify the illness, noting that the test results revealed elevated lead levels in the blood of the affected cases.

He asked residents of the impacted and surrounding areas to exercise caution and report anyone exhibiting the listed symptoms to the closest medical facility or by calling the NCDC’s toll-free number.