Unidentified Disease Kills 30; Reps Order Probe

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to investigate and make frantic efforts to curtail the spread of an unidentified disease which has killed about 30 people in the Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State.

The House asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to as a matter of urgency mobilise personnel to identify the cause (s) and urgently and verify the nature of the disease.

The House also urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to put up surveillance measures to contain the spread of the disease and ensure adequate treatment was extended to affected persons.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved by Aboullahi El-Rasheed, the member representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency, Gombe State.

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El-Rasheed said the outbreak of the yet-to-be-identified disease was gradually spreading across communities in the Nafada LGA.

He added that the disease had claimed the lives of youths and children within the affected communities in the last few days, stressing that the number of victims continued to increase rapidly, thereby causing apprehension in the affected communities.

He listed the symptoms of the disease to include severe headache, stomach pain, vomiting, smelly stool, and leg pain leading to ultimately death.

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He said the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency had deployed more health personnel to support the existing staff members of Nafada General Hospital to check the spread of the disease and extend medical attention to affected persons.

He said, “The House is disturbed that the blood samples of few victims that were tested in medical laboratory have shown negative reaction to Cerebrospinal Meningitis, which implies that the disease is yet to be diagnosed by health authorities and medical experts in Gombe State.

“Worried that the disease is fast spreading with about 30 deaths recorded as of February 26, 2024, and can potentially halt business and school activities across the communities as parents are afraid of sending their children to school due to fear of contracting the disease.

“Further worried that the situation will escalate and spread to neighbouring communities and local governments if not properly and professionally managed.”

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committees on Healthcare Services and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.