Strange illness strikes 50 in Niger, 24 hospitalised
By Kasim Isa Muhammad
Kanempress News
25th January 2025
Kanempress reports that a mysterious illness has reportedly affected nearly 50 individuals in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State.
Further information showed that no fewer than 24 of the affected persons are currently hospitalised.
The illness, which has spread rapidly through several areas, remains unidentified.
Affected areas are Ekoko, Tutijiba, Banin Bida, Laruta, and Edogiful in Bida town, with Laruta being the worst hit.
Sources from the town, told Kanempress that the mysterious illness strikes suddenly, causing individuals to collapse into a near-comatose state without prior warning.
Symptoms following the collapse include prolonged unconsciousness, fever, body weakness, numbness in the nerves, and difficulty walking or speaking.
In other cases, reports said patients were foamed at the mouth during the attack.
Majority of affected individuals have been treated at the Umaru Sanda Ndayako Hospital in Bida and the Federal Medical Centre Bida, while a few were referred to specialist hospitals in Gwagwalada and Abuja.
Tragically, one patient has been confirmed dead.
In reaction, the Chairman of Bida Local Government, Bala Shaba, dispatched medical teams to the affected areas and is awaiting further assistance from relevant health authorities.
Shaba also called for calm while the council works to contain the situation and prevent its spread to nearby communities.
There is growing panic in the affected areas, with citizens fleeing to neighbouring towns and villages, with calls on both the Niger State and federal governments to take swift action, describing the illness as potentially airborne.
The Niger State Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur, attributed the cases to untreated severe typhoid and malaria.
Tukur said, “The Disease Surveillance Unit, Public Health Department, Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, Niger State, received information on an outbreak of a strange illness in Bida LGA on 19th January 2025.”
According to the commissioner, an investigation began over the source of the disease on January 20, 2025, just as he said that the disease caused weakness and mental consciousness.
He also said that blood samples collected diagnoses of traits of malaria and typhoid fever strains which were poorly treated.
The commissioner said that though no death has been recorded about 24 persons have been hospitalised with 20 already discharged from the hospitals.
Tukur said, “Symptoms observed in the patients included sudden onset of weakness, loss or altered consciousness, with or without fever. The total number of patients on admission was three—two at FMC Bida and one at Umaru Sanda Ndayako Hospital, Bida. Others in the hospitals have been discharged.”
According to him, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is aware of the disease and laboratory tests are ongoing
