Strange Disease: Three Die, 284 Hospitalised In Kano

Kano State government, yesterday, confirmed three people dead
and 284 others infected in the outbreak of a yet-to-be-identified
disease in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim-Tsanyawa,
confirmed the outbreak of the strange disease at a briefing in
Kano.

Ibrahim-Tsanyawa said the infected people had been admitted in
25 health facilities across the state.

He explained that the disease, whose outbreak was recorded on
March 10, was suspected to be caused by consumption of contaminated
flavour and a brand of expired instant drink products.

The commissioner said 284 people were infected with the disease
in 13 local government areas, adding that 101 of them had been
discharged, with 183 currently on admission.

He listed the affected areas as Dala; Gwale, Kano Municaipal,
Fage, Ungogo, Kumbotso, Tarauni, Bunkure, Rano, Dawakinjudu,
Dawakin Tofa, Gwarzo and Danbatta.

“The index is a six-year old girl, who developed abdominal pain,
vomiting, jaundice and urine with blood (hematuria) after drinking
water bought from a vendor.

“The vendor was said to have sourced the water from a borehole
at a cemetery in the metropolis.

“The assumption involves instant drink flavour powder and a
variety of salt for industrial use (caustic powder).

“Water, blood and different instant drink flavour powder samples
have been taken for tests to pin down a diagnosis, ranging from
food-borne disease, food poisoning, Lassa fever, Yellow Fever,
Dengue Fever, Chemical poisoning to Toxic Hepatitis,” he said.

Ibrahim-Tsanyawa noted that the ministry was still awaiting the
results of sample analyses to establish the cause(s) of the
infection and identify the disease.

He added that the ministry had stepped up sensitisation and
engagement with stakeholders to ensure that people became aware of
the recent development and know the best way to protect
themselves.

“The ministry is working closely with the National Agency for
Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the State
Consumer Protection Council (KSCPC).

“We have deployed personnel and scaled up surveillance in the 44
local government areas of the state to check circulation of the
suspected products.

“The state government is providing free treatment for the
infected people, while 13 others had been arrested in connection
with the circulation of the suspected product,” he added.

According to him, the state Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit
Products has seized counterfeit and expired products worth over N59
million in the past five days.

Kano State government, yesterday, confirmed three people dead
and 284 others infected in the outbreak of a yet-to-be-identified
disease in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim-Tsanyawa,
confirmed the outbreak of the strange disease at a briefing in
Kano.

Ibrahim-Tsanyawa said the infected people had been admitted in
25 health facilities across the state.

He explained that the disease, whose outbreak was recorded on
March 10, was suspected to be caused by consumption of contaminated
flavour and a brand of expired instant drink products.

The commissioner said 284 people were infected with the disease
in 13 local government areas, adding that 101 of them had been
discharged, with 183 currently on admission.

He listed the affected areas as Dala; Gwale, Kano Municaipal,
Fage, Ungogo, Kumbotso, Tarauni, Bunkure, Rano, Dawakinjudu,
Dawakin Tofa, Gwarzo and Danbatta.

“The index is a six-year old girl, who developed abdominal pain,
vomiting, jaundice and urine with blood (hematuria) after drinking
water bought from a vendor.

“The vendor was said to have sourced the water from a borehole
at a cemetery in the metropolis.

“The assumption involves instant drink flavour powder and a
variety of salt for industrial use (caustic powder).

“Water, blood and different instant drink flavour powder samples
have been taken for tests to pin down a diagnosis, ranging from
food-borne disease, food poisoning, Lassa fever, Yellow Fever,
Dengue Fever, Chemical poisoning to Toxic Hepatitis,” he said.

Ibrahim-Tsanyawa noted that the ministry was still awaiting the
results of sample analyses to establish the cause(s) of the
infection and identify the disease.

He added that the ministry had stepped up sensitisation and
engagement with stakeholders to ensure that people became aware of
the recent development and know the best way to protect
themselves.

“The ministry is working closely with the National Agency for
Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the State
Consumer Protection Council (KSCPC).

“We have deployed personnel and scaled up surveillance in the 44
local government areas of the state to check circulation of the
suspected products.

“The state government is providing free treatment for the
infected people, while 13 others had been arrested in connection
with the circulation of the suspected product,” he added.

According to him, the state Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit
Products has seized counterfeit and expired products worth over N59
million in the past five days.