A wave of fear has swept through the Laruta community in Bida, Niger State, following the sudden outbreak of a mysterious disease that has claimed two lives and hospitalized over 27 others. The illness, marked by sudden collapse, body weakness, and an inability to communicate, has left medical professionals and residents grappling for answers as they face an increasing number of affected individuals.
Among the fatalities is Alhaji Abubakar, the revered Chief Imam of Laruta, who tragically passed away after spending five days at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Bida. His son, Mohammed Surajo Abubakar, described the illness as baffling, recounting, “My daddy died three weeks ago of a strange illness. We don’t know the kind of illness, and when we went to the FMC Bida, the doctor ran several tests but couldn’t identify any sickness.”
The heartbreaking account of his wife, Hadiza Abubakar, further adds to the mystery of the disease. “He first started feeling feverish before sleep and asked his children to wake him when it was time for Juma’at prayer. But when the children tried to wake him, he couldn’t respond. That’s when we rushed him to the hospital.”
Local medical practitioner Aliyu Alhaji Alkali, who has treated many affected individuals in his clinic, reported a worrying trend in the illness. “So far, I have treated and discharged 17 patients, and referred many others with critical conditions to the general hospital and FMC,” he said. “The symptoms are strange: body weakness, an inability to respond to calls, and in some cases, people just collapse while standing or sitting down.”
One particularly tragic incident involved an elderly woman who reportedly collapsed and died instantly after seeing her son, who had also contracted the illness. This heartbreaking loss underscores the severity of the situation and the growing panic among residents.
Authorities are still scrambling to identify the root cause of the outbreak. The mysterious symptoms include fever, prolonged unconsciousness, and an inability to walk or speak properly once affected individuals regain consciousness. Despite extensive medical tests, no conclusive diagnosis has been made, leaving both the residents and healthcare workers in a state of uncertainty.
The disease has primarily affected residents of Laruta and surrounding communities, with authorities unable to pinpoint the source or reason for its rapid spread. Medical experts have warned that the illness’s unexplained nature calls for urgent investigation, as more individuals continue to display the alarming symptoms.
The situation in Bida has grown increasingly dire as more people fall ill, prompting local leaders and health officials to call for heightened vigilance and immediate intervention to contain the disease before it spreads further. As the community waits for answers, the fear of the unknown looms large, with many fearing that the worst may still be to come.
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