Two persons have died, and more than 27 others have been hospitalised following the outbreak of a mysterious illness in Bida, Niger State.
The disease, which causes sudden collapse, body weakness, and inability to communicate, has created widespread fear in the Laruta area of the town.
One of the deceased persons, Alhaji Abubakar, Chief Imam of Laruta, passed away after spending five days at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida.
His son, Mohammed Surajo Abubakar, recounted, “My daddy died three weeks ago of a strange illness. We don’t know the kind of illness and when we went to the FMC Bida Doctor ran several checks but couldn’t see any sickness with him.”
Alhaji Abubakar’s wife, Hadiza Abubakar, explained to The Bureau Newspaper that in her husband’s last moments: “He first started feeling feverish before sleep and asked his children to wake him when it was time for Juma’at prayer.
“When the children attempted to wake him, he couldn’t wake up again. That was how we rushed him to the hospital.”
A local medical practitioner, Aliyu Alhaji Alkali, explained, “I have since treated and discharged 17 patients so far in my facility and have referred many with critical conditions to the general hospital and FMC.”
He described the symptoms observed in patients, saying, “The symptoms include body weakness, not responding to calls, and other signs. Some will just fall down while standing or sitting down.”
Tragically, an aged woman reportedly collapsed and died instantly upon seeing the condition of her son, who had also contracted the illness.
Authorities have yet to identify the cause of the outbreak, which has primarily affected residents of Laruta and neighbouring areas.
Symptoms, including fever and prolonged unconsciousness, have left many unable to walk or speak properly after regaining consciousness.
