Journalists have confirmed concerns in Zamfara State concerning a mysterious illness spreading across the region, particularly affecting children and women. Official sources report 13 casualties associated with this unidentified illness in specific areas of Zamfara State. Data from medical facilities and government records indicate a total of 505 reported instances in Maradun, Shinkafi, and Gusau Local Government Areas.
Further investigations reveal the spread of the outbreak to Isa and Zurmi LGAs in Sokoto and Zamfara states, respectively. The disease was first identified in Tsibiri village, Maradun LGA, in February of this year. Since then, the village has been grappling with the illness, with four confirmed fatalities, 228 cases, and 10 individuals transferred to the Shehu Shagari Disease Control Centre in Gusau due to severe complications.
Similarly, reports from Shinkafi LGA indicate the outbreak’s identification in Galadi village in April, with six confirmed fatalities among 100+ cases reported. Over 60 patients with severe complications have been transferred to the Shehu Shagari Disease Control Centre. Concerns about containment have led to calls for additional medical professionals to be dispatched to the affected zones by the governments of Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Local resident Musa Salisu expressed concerns about the disease’s potential escalation and emphasized the necessity of preemptive actions by authorities. He highlighted the added risk posed by the prevailing banditry situation, which might discourage locals from seeking medical help.
The Zamfara State Government officially acknowledged the unusual disease in Maradun, Shinkafi, and Gusau LGAs. The Commissioner for Health described the symptoms, including abdominal distension, fluid accumulation, enlarged liver and spleen, fever, and weakness, likely resulting from contaminated water consumption. The government has notified the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and is implementing emergency response strategies to determine the cause and prevent further spread. Samples have been dispatched to laboratories in Lagos and Abuja for analysis.
