A “strange” disease has killed 13 people in Yauri, Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Daily Trust reports.
But the Director, Medical Services at the state Ministry of Health, Dr Aminu Haliru Bunza, put the figure of dead persons at ten.
He said ten people died while seven are receiving treatment at a hospital in Yauri.
“The situation is under control. A medical team from the World Health Organization (WHO), the state Ministry of Health and other stakeholders are on ground to tackle the situation,” he said.
He said blood samples have been taken for investigation, while those undergoing treatment are in isolation.
Sources at the General Hospital, Yauri, said, “those we have at the hospital are responding to treatment. There is no cause for alarm.”
Palace sources in Yauri also disclosed that another three deaths were recorded. But that could not be confirmed.
Residents have attributed the disease to witchcraft attack.
When contacted, the Walin Yauri, Alhaji Shehu Ahmed, said those who died either complained of headache or stomach ache.
Alhaji Shehu said most of those affected were food vendors within the market area, and that they died before reaching the hospital.
“It started about a week ago and two to three persons died daily at home. Survivors are currently responding to treatment in the hospital. Medical doctors at the General Hospital, Yauri, and the state Ministry of Health suspect a case of meningitis. However, experts drafted to investigate the incident have taken blood samples to the Uthman Danfodio Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, for investigation,” he added.
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