Sep 26, 2009 - Nigeria : 71 people dead,750 lying critically ill from unknown disease

[Watchman]

Nigeria : 71 people dead , 750 lying critically ill from unknown disease.

Death toll rises in Adamawa epidemic
By DAVID MOLOMO, Yola
Saturday, September 26, 2009

Contrary to the earlier claims that the disease that claimed a number of lives in Adamawa State was cholera, the state government stated on Thursday that it was a mere misfortune of the season just as it stated that the death toll has reached seventy.

The victims of the epidemics with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, coughing and mild fever, had ravaged communities in seven local government areas in the northern part of Adamawa State.

The Federal Government, last week, according to Governor Murtala Nyako dismissed claims that the strange disease was cholera.
However, a number of victims receiving treatment in hospitals are on danger list. Seventy-one others have been confirmed dead, while seven hundred and forty six affected are still confirmed ill of the disease.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Bubakari Musa Kamale who disclosed this to pressmen in Yola on Thursday also stated that the actual name of the disease cannot be readily ascertained since laboratory and chemical tests are being awaited.
He stated that the government has already dispatched adequate drugs and a medical response team to attend to those already hit by the disease in the known areas.

Alhaji Musa Kamale further disclosed that samples of the disease were sent to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the University Teaching Hospital Ibadan, France and US for experts to analyse and determine the cause and nature of the disease.

According to him, the disease was suspected to have emanated from filthy environment and therefore, advised people in the affected areas to purify their drinking water as well as keep their environment clean.
Kamale said, the state government has approved the release of one hundred and twenty million Naira to the Ministry of Health to boost the free medical care programme for pregnant women and children below five years.

He, however, noted some shortcomings in the implementation of the free medical programme in some public institutions in the state. He further disclosed that adequate measures have been taken to safeguard diversion of drugs and other acts of sabotage by health personnel.