A mysterious illness has affected 24 residents in Bida, Niger State, leading to their hospitalisation.
Reports indicate that 20 individuals have been discharged after more than a week of treatment at the Federal Medical Centre and Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital.
The illness, which causes sudden collapse and loss of communication abilities, has caused alarm in the community.
Niger State Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur, attributed the outbreak to untreated severe typhoid and malaria.
He noted that the Disease Surveillance Unit responded to the case on January 19, 2025, and investigation showed symptoms of weakness, altered consciousness and fever.
Dr. Tukur clarified that no deaths were reported, and all patients received treatment locally, saying: “Blood tests has confirmed that the illness was linked to malaria and typhoid fever.
“Additionally, the potential role of diphenhydramine was considered. The State government and local authorities are actively educating residents on hygiene and nutrition.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been notified, and further investigations are on-going”, he further stated.
