An unidentified disease that can potentially halt daily activities has killed 30 persons in the Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government on Tuesday to investigate and curtail the spread of an unidentified disease in Nafada Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The House asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to urgently deploy its personnel to verify the nature of the illness.
The House of Reps also urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to put up surveillance measures to contain the spread of the disease and ensure adequate treatment was extended to affected persons.
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.
El-Rasheed said the outbreak of the yet-to-be-identified disease was gradually spreading across communities in the Nafada LGA.
He added that the illness had claimed the lives of youths and children within the affected communities in the last few days, stressing that the number of victims continued to increase rapidly, thereby causing apprehension in the affected communities.
He listed the symptoms of the illness to include a severe headache, stomach pain, vomiting, smelly stool, leg pain, and ultimately death.
He said the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency had deployed more health personnel to support the existing staff members of Nafada General Hospital to check the spread of the illness and extend medical attention to affected persons.
He said, “The House is disturbed that the blood samples of a few victims that were tested in a medical laboratory have shown a negative reaction to cerebrospinal meningitis, which implies that the disease is yet to be diagnosed by health authorities and medical experts in Gombe State.
“We are 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 to neighbouring 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.
