THERE are many things that tend to be “unknown” in Africa’s most populous country, from soldiers to gunmen, and from gunmen to diseases. Happily, though, the relevant organs of the state are addressing the latest mystery, namely the outbreak of a disease of unknown origin in Sokoto State, about which the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has been quite up and doing. According to the director-general of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, a total of 164 suspected cases have so far been identified in six wards of Isa Local Government Area of the state, namely Bargaja (22), Isa North (17), Isa South (98), Tozai (12), Tsabre (4) and Turba (11). Sadly, four fatalities have already been recorded amongst the suspected cases. The NCDC DG indicated that the agency was notified of the latest development by the Sokoto State Ministry of Health on March 21. The story is that certain children showed symptoms which included abdominal distension due to rapid onset of fluids in the abdomen (ascites), fever, vomiting and weight loss from Isa LGA of Sokoto State. The DG said: “Most of these cases are children aged 4 – 13 years, including some adults. The patients came from different wards and settlements across the LGAs.”
Dr Idris added that the NCDC had deployed a National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) to work with the Sokoto State Ministry of Health to further investigate and respond to the incident. While noting that a similar incident was previously documented in 2023 without a definitive diagnosis, he said that two suspected cases were receiving care at the Uthman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, and that a patient had been discharged on account of improved symptoms. He said: “Four 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.” He added that initial clinical assessment and investigations of the patients admitted at the teaching hospital ruled out an infectious origin, hence the necessity of searching for other causes, including heavy metal testing. Indicating that the results of the initial test for heavy metals for the index and first few suspected cases revealed different blood levels of lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr), the NCDC boss further revealed that some of results of the tests recently received showed high levels of lead in the blood of the affected patients, adding that other test were still being carried out to determine the disease. He urged members of the affected and nearby communities to be vigilant and report anyone with the stated symptoms to the nearest health facilities to them or call NCDC toll free line.
This is indeed a very serious matter considering the fact that the state is, like many other states in the country, faced with worsening insecurity, severe youth unemployment and poverty, as well as unreliable healthcare. The situation is not helped by the fact that a similar previous occurrence was not thoroughly diagnosed with a view to preventing further outbreaks. If the right thing had been done, it would perhaps have given a clue on the true nature of the current outbreak and how to tackle it decisively. To be sure, this pernicious practice of allowing outbreaks and other terrible developments to fester instead of promptly containing them has tended to be a major bane of the Nigerian state. Today, the country suffers from lassa fever, malaria scourge, among other diseases that should have been tamed if not fully overcome. In this regard, the Sokoto strange disease must be properly diagnosed and concrete actions taken to avert similar episodes in the future.
There is, however, a silver lining, as the NCDC and the Sokoto authorities have indicated a willingness to work together, identify the root causes of the outbreak, and address it decisively. It is also a good sign that awareness is being created on the outbreak which, thankfully, is not infectious. Since the fact has been determined that activities in the affected communities include mining and agricultural practices which involve the use of various types of chemicals and pesticides, among others, the authorities must work on the results of laboratory testing and suggest lifestyle changes that will help in containing the outbreak. The disease may be strange and unknown, but its effects are certainly not. Four casualties have already been recorded and it is incumbent on the Sokoto State government and the NCDC to heighten their collaboration and ensure that the situation is contained. That is what is going to save lives.
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