Reps Want Probe As Strange Disease Kills 30 In Gombe

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to investigate and curtail the spread of an unidentified disease that has killed some people in Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State, Nigeria.

As a result, the House asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as a matter of emergency, to urgently deploy its personnel to verify the nature of the disease.

The House also urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to put up surveillance measures to contain the spread of the disease and ensure that adequate treatment is extended to affected victims

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved by Aboullahi El-Rasheed, the member representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency, Gombe State.

Moving the motion, El-Rasheed lamented the outbreak of the yet-to-be-identified disease that is gradually spreading across communities in the Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State.

He added that the disease has claimed the lives of youths and children within the affected communities in the last few days, stressing that the number of victims continues to increase rapidly, thereby instilling fear and apprehension in the affected communities.

He listed the symptoms of the disease to include a severe headache; stomach pain; vomiting and very smelly stool and leg pain, leading victims to severe overall body pain before their untimely deaths.

He said the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has deployed more health personnel to support the existing staff members of Nafada General Hospital with a view to averting the spread of the disease and extending medical attention to affected victims.

He said, “The House is disturbed that the blood samples of few victims that were tested in medical laboratory have shown negative reaction to cerebrospinal meningitis, which implies that the disease is yet to be diagnosed by health authorities and medical experts in Gombe State;

“Worried that the disease is fast spreading, with about 30 deaths recorded as of February 26, 2024, and can potentially halt business and school activities across the communities as parents are afraid of sending their children to school due to fear of contracting the disease;

“Further worried that the situation will escalate and spread across to other neighboring communities and local governments if not properly and professionally managed.”

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committees on Healthcare Services and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.