A disease suspected to be Yellow fever has killed 10 persons
in different communities of Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Two health workers working at the Tipchi Primary Health Care
Centre, have been infected with the disease which affected communities of
Tipchi, Deru, Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada and Barawo, all of which are under Burra
District in Ningi Local Government Area, Daily Trust gathered.
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One of the affected health workers at the Tipchi Primary
Health Care Centre, who does not want be named, said; “As I am talking to
you I am also affected by the disease. I am currently at home with high fever,
I cannot go to work. My female colleague is also down with high fever.”
He said the outbreak started almost four weeks ago and the
centre reported the issue to the local government primary health care
department.
“We reported the outbreak to the immediate past
director of primary health care in the local government. Maybe the recent
suspension of directors of primary healthcare in the state delayed government
intervention.
“We have received more than 20 persons with suspected
cases of Yellow fever recently and majority of them come with the same
symptoms; high fever, yellowish eyes and severe abdominal pains.
“Because of their condition and the number of cases
recorded, we immediately referred them to the General Hospital and after one or
two days you hear that the patient is dead.”
A community leader in Tipchi village, Ilya Muhammed, in a
telephone interview told Daily Trust that about ten persons died of the disease
in Tipchi and neighbouring village.
“We suspect that the disease killing our people is
Yellow fever because most of the victims have similar symptoms; including high
fever, severe abdominal pain, dizziness, yellowish eyes and persistent vomiting
usually with blood.”
He appealed to the state government and other relevant
agencies to send a team of experts to ascertain the nature of the disease for
prompt intervention so as curtail the number of casualties.
The Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Primary Health Care
Development Agency (BPHCDA) Dr Rilwan Muhammed, has travelled out of the
country for an official assignment and efforts to get confirmation of the
disease from the agency proved abortive, but a staff of the agency who spoke on
condition of anonymity said BPHCDA received report of the outbreak and
investigation has since commenced to ascertain the disease.
It would be recalled that last month 22 persons died of
Yellow fever in Alkaleri LGA of the state.