The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, says it is yet to find an accurate diagnosis for the strange disease which has affected 164 persons and claimed four lives in six wards of Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria.
The Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, that initial clinical assessments and investigations of the cases ruled out an infectious origin, hence the search for other causes, including heavy metal testing.
The NCDC, therefore, appeals to members of the affected and nearby communities to be vigilant, and report anyone presenting with
abdominal distension, fever, vomiting and weight loss to the nearest health facility.
The strange disease is happening among children aged 4 – 13 years, including some adults.
It is similar to an incident in 2023 that was also without a definitive diagnosis.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)