Nigeria Hit With Mysterious Epidemic In Ondo State, More Deadly Than Ebola: Report

[undeterred]

Source: International Business Times

A strange disease has ravaged a small community in western Nigeria, killing at least 14 people in the last 10 days. Residents of the Ikale community in Ondo state have described the mysterious epidemic as more deadly than Ebola and many are afraid to touch the dead, the Daily Post in Nigeria reported.

“We are worried. Our people are dying. We don’t know this sickness,” resident Mary Omogbehinla told the Daily Post on Thursday. “We can’t touch those who have been killed. I have counted about 19, others said 14. God please, have mercy on us.”

Four new patients with symptoms of the strange disease were isolated at a local hospital in Ode Irele. The state’s health commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, said Thursday the government launched an awareness campaign to encourage residents to report any potential cases of the mysterious ailment. The World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria’s health ministry and other health agencies were also contacted to help identify the disease and to ensure the cases do not spread, the Daily Post said Thursday.

Adeyanju has advised the public against burying victims at home. He said health officials were using the same protective equipment used during the deadly Ebola outbreak to handle patients and victims of this unknown epidemic. The symptoms are reportedly different than those of Ebola, which include diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Victims of the unknown epidemic complained of headaches and weight loss before losing their sight and succumbing to the illness, Punch Nigeria news reported Friday.

Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/nigeria-hit-mysterious-epidemic-ondo-state-more-deadly-ebola-report-1886162

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Healthcare workers wore protective suits at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, Aug. 30, 2014. Health officials in Nigeria were reportedly using the same protective gear to handle patients and victims of a mysterious epidemic in Ondo state.

[louis-t]

1. Jeez.

Here we go again.

[bunnies]

2. Damn.

Hope someone figures it out soon.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

3. We're probably all screwed now. Oh well...

[YOHABLO]

4. Well they have to contain it. That's the best we can hope for.

[sadoldgirl]

5. In addition to containing it,

it might be a good idea to find the cause of it. The way
it is described we might be dealing with a new virus, due
to the fast spreading of the disease. It could be an
environmental issue as well, since it appeared in one area
only.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Gawd is mad at Nigeria for its genocide KILL THE GAYS bill it passed last year. So, blame gay people

[undeterred]

7. This time there will be a better chance of containing it.

MSF sounded the warning about Ebola in March 2014 and the response was not what it should have been.., If the scientific community is already taking a look at this, things should happen faster this time.

[Demeter]

8. Victims of the unknown epidemic complained of headaches and weight loss before losing their sight

Sounds like poisoning...maybe heavy metals....cobalt and arsenic poisoning can lead to blindness...

[MisterP]

9. hmm, Irele's not in the polluted Delta area, nor on the coast where everything gets dumped

[undeterred]

10. Nigerian article:

According to Mimiko, cerebro-spinal fluid, blood and urine specimens have been taken for examination, and that preliminary results have not detected any known viral infection.

The governor said, “We have ordered toxicology test, we have commenced active surveillance through the local government area disease surveillance and notification officer. We await final laboratory results to be able to fully apprehend and finally surmount this challenge.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/death-toll-in-ondo-strange-disease-hits-17/

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Nigeria mystery deaths: Pesticides suspected, says WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says pesticide poisoning is the probable cause of 18 mysterious deaths in south-western Nigeria.
...
All of those affected started showing symptoms between 13 and 15 April.

The WHO spokesman, Gregory Haertl, tweeted: "Current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides" and "Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection."

The tests were carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the WHO said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-32372502

[Demeter]

12. NPR or Maybe BBC Report Last NIght: Wood Alcohol Poisoning

It was only guys that died...they had a moonshine party with contaminated drink.

[dembotoz]

13. thank you for posting this

We don't hear much from our media per African events