Amidst COVID-19 pandemic and deaths in Nigeria, over 50 persons have been reported to have lost their lives to a strange illness in Olamaboro Local Government area of Kogi State.
Although, the cause of the disease is still unknown, it’s symptoms however, are, headache, red eye, loss of appetite, inability to urinate or defecate, convulsion, and consequently, death.
The lawmaker representing Olamaboro Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Ujah Anthony Alewo who raised this alarm in a motion of urgent public importance presented at the floor of the house on Tuesday, said it was sad and quite disturbing that the residents of Etteh Community in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State were thrown into confusion by the outbreak of an epidemic alien to them.
According to him, the Community shares boundary with Enugu State, stressing that, there is a need for urgent action to avert further loss of lives as the infected patient dies within one week of contracting the disease.
“The reports reaching my constituency office from the community leaders confirmed that over 50 people within the economic and productive age of 25 to 40 years died from September to date.
“Thereby stalling agricultural, social, and economic activities which directly affect the food security of the agrarian and artisan Etteh people,” Alewo said.
Following the alarm raised by the Lawmaker, however, Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Saka Audu has denied the report; claiming that, 43 people died of the strange illness and the affected community is located in a border town in Enugu State.
“Those deaths, I know 46 people are confirmed to have died on the side of Enugu State. I have been in contact with the Commissioner for Health in Enugu State, we have discussed the issue and shared ideas. No such illness on Kogi side of the divide. No Death has occurred in our own region.
“However, we have alerted all the health stakeholders. We have communicated with the traditional ruler of Olamabaro Local Government Area,” Audu said.
