Over 50 Dead as ‘Strange Disease’ hits Kogi

An unknown disease tagged as ‘strange disease’ has killed over 50 persons in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi state.

The disease has headache and eye redness among other, as it’s symptoms.

The Kogi House of Assembly on Tuesday called on state and federal ministries of health to unravel the cause of the disease during plenary in Lokoja, following adoption of a motion on Urgent Public Importance, raised by Anthony Ujah (APC-Olamaboro), over the strange illness.

According to the lawmaker, other symptoms of the unknown disease include loss of appetite, inability to urinate or defecate, convulsion and death.

Mr Ujah said that the residents of Etteh Community in the local government have been thrown into confusion by the outbreak of the alien disease.

He maintained that the cause or nature of the disease is still unknown, adding that infected persons die within one week of contracting the disease.

More worrisome, according to him, is that all efforts to get solution using local herbs and treatment at primary health centres with referrals to clinics and hospitals in neighboring Ogugu and Okpo have been unsuccessful.

“The reports reaching my constituency office from the community leaders confirmed that over 50 people between the age of 25 and 40 years have died since September,” he said.

Seconding the motion, Edoko Moses Ododo (APC-Dekina/Biraidu), said that the people of the community now live in fear.

He said that urgent steps need to be taken to save their lives as the disease can adversely affect the economic input of the agrarian community.

Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Mohammed submitted that the community shares boundary with Enugu State and efforts should be made to urgently avert further loss of lives.

Mr Mohammed prayed that the state government should establish a hospital in Etteh community to prevent or tackle future occurrence of such epidemic and other health challenges.

The Speaker of the House, Mathew Kolawole, later asked for a minute silence in honour of the deceased.

He directed that a letter be sent to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, for immediate support and assistance.