The Kano state ministry of health has issued a statement to clear the air on the recent spate of “strange deaths” recorded at Gundutse village in Kura local government area of the state. The government have attributed the deaths to “severe malaria and typhoid” in the area.
In a statement issued by the information officer of the ministry, Ibrahim Abudullahi, the health ministry said its epidemiology unit found that alarming environmental health challenges exacerbated the health risk faced by the community where 13 cases and five deaths were recorded, starting from March, 2024.
Trust TV had visited Gundutse village and reported that about 45 persons reportedly lost their lives due to an outbreak of a mysterious illness in the village as the victims, mostly women, children, and elderly, exhibited symptoms similar to those of malaria, diarrhea as well as vomiting.
The ministry, in its reports, stated that the delay in visiting the nearby health facility by the people of the area aggravated the situation, leading to increased morbidity and mortality in many communities.
The Statement read: “The attention of the Kano state Ministry of Health has been drawn to a published story by one of the northern Nigeria based newspaper which reported that a ‘strange disease’ has emerged and killed 45 people in Gundutse, Kura LGA.
” The story was twisted by the reporter to achieve his personal gains. The reporter was in the ministry on Tuesday 16/4/2024 to balance the story and was told that there has been no strange disease anywhere in the state so much that the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (SDSNO) was phoned to explain the reality of the situation in the said area.
“The SDSNO affirmed that it was severe malaria and typhoid that persist in the area, and the report would be shared to the reporter, dishearteningly instead for him to wait a little bit he went ahead and published an unjustified and half-baked story that instilled fear among the people.”
“In an e-mail the Epidemiology Unit of the ministry sent to the relevant MDAs and stakeholder on 8 April, 2024 captioned Response to Report on Life Threatening Conditions among Children in Gainawa ‘A’ Gundutse, stated that following the recent reports of life-threatening conditions among children in the community, a team has been raised, in collaboration with the Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC), Kura LGA had conducted a thorough investigation as quick intervention to arrest the situation on time.
“The unit said that the finding revealed alarming environmental health challenges exacerbating the health risks faced by the community where thirteen cases and five deaths were recorded, starting from March 2024.”
“The delay in attending the nearby health facility by the people of the area aggravated the case, an unfortunate behaviour that leads to morbidity and mortality in many communities.”
