Mystery sickness kills 4 with officers warning “children at risk”

Four people are believed to have died after a mysterious illness runs rampant in Nigeria.

The government confirmed four people are dead and “children are at risk” in Zamfara, Nigeria following a long-running battle with an unknown sickness. 177 people are so far confirmed to have been infected with the illness.

Dr Aisha Anka, the state minister for Health, confirmed the deaths in a statement to the press earlier this week. Details of the disease and symptoms which led to the fatalities have also been revealed.

Abdominal distension as well as fluid in the abdomen, an enlarged liver and spleen, fever and general body weakness were all listed as symptoms of the disease which is believed to be spreading through Nigeria.

Dr Anka later confirmed the disease had spread across three villages with the illness found in Maradun, Shinkafi and Gusau. Local governments also confirmed the cases.

The National Centre for Disease Control has been made aware of the updated cases and deaths with an emergency response phase underway to curb the rising infection numbers.

Dr Anka added: “Children are mostly affected and the cases are associated with water consumption. So far, four deaths have been recorded, 177 cases were detected.”

It comes as 45 people were reported to have died in Gundutse village in the Kano state from a mystery illness. It is not yet known whether the illness which left women, children and the elderly dead is the same as the illness running rampant in Zamfara.

It is believed the community in the Gundutse village were burying five people a day at the peak of the mystery illness.

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