10 children hospitalized following 'strange disease' outbreak in Kaduna
As many as 10 children, aged between 3 and 13, have been hospitalized following an unnamed illness outbreak in Kafanchan Local Government Area, Jema'a, Kaduna State.
It has been learned that the disease outbreak has forced many primary and secondary schools to close while authorities launch an investigation.
Local government chairman Yunana Barde, who confirmed the outbreak, said the strange illness broke out on Wednesday evening.
Barde spoke to reporters at Kafanchan General Hospital on Thursday.
He, however, urged residents not to panic, saying efforts were being made to contain the disease.
He praised the hospital for providing a temporary isolation center for patients with this strange disease.
General Hospital Medical Director Dr. Isaac Nathaniel said resuscitation was underway on 10 suspected victims when admitted.
He added that samples had been taken from the patients for laboratory tests.
He said, "Last night I was notified of an outbreak of what appears to be a respiratory tract infection in the Ward B community of Kafanchan.
"I quickly dispatched a team of medical and laboratory personnel who made contact with three of the suspected cases.
"We advised them to come to the hospital for proper assessment and treatment after the arrival of seven more victims today.
"We are doing everything we can to stabilize and care for them while we investigate."
According to him, the patients, aged between three and 13, had symptoms ranging from sore throat, headache and fever to difficulty swallowing and breathing, among others.
He added that the state epidemiologist and his team were on their way to Kafanchan from Kaduna to determine the epidemiological basis of the outbreak and its spread.
He, however, debunked the news making the rounds of the deaths of around 10 people, noting that none of the alleged corpses had been taken to the morgue.
"We were informed of some deaths last night, but none of the so-called corpses were brought to us. So for now, it's just hearsay," Nathaniel said.
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As many as 10 children, aged between 3 and 13, have been hospitalized following an unnamed illness outbreak in Kafanchan Local Government Area, Jema'a, Kaduna State.
It has been learned that the disease outbreak has forced many primary and secondary schools to close while authorities launch an investigation.
Local government chairman Yunana Barde, who confirmed the outbreak, said the strange illness broke out on Wednesday evening.
Barde spoke to reporters at Kafanchan General Hospital on Thursday.
He, however, urged residents not to panic, saying efforts were being made to contain the disease.
He praised the hospital for providing a temporary isolation center for patients with this strange disease.
General Hospital Medical Director Dr. Isaac Nathaniel said resuscitation was underway on 10 suspected victims when admitted.
He added that samples had been taken from the patients for laboratory tests.
He said, "Last night I was notified of an outbreak of what appears to be a respiratory tract infection in the Ward B community of Kafanchan.
"I quickly dispatched a team of medical and laboratory personnel who made contact with three of the suspected cases.
"We advised them to come to the hospital for proper assessment and treatment after the arrival of seven more victims today.
"We are doing everything we can to stabilize and care for them while we investigate."
According to him, the patients, aged between three and 13, had symptoms ranging from sore throat, headache and fever to difficulty swallowing and breathing, among others.
He added that the state epidemiologist and his team were on their way to Kafanchan from Kaduna to determine the epidemiological basis of the outbreak and its spread.
He, however, debunked the news making the rounds of the deaths of around 10 people, noting that none of the alleged corpses had been taken to the morgue.
"We were informed of some deaths last night, but none of the so-called corpses were brought to us. So for now, it's just hearsay," Nathaniel said.
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