Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Senate Thursday raised the alarm over the likely outbreak of a “strange epidemic” in Oye-Obi Local Government Area of Benue State.
Consequently, the upper chamber, urged the Federal Ministry of Health to urgently mobilise focal persons to the area to investigate and ascertain the nature of the disease which has allegedly claimed 15 lives.
The Senate also called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to promptly put up surveillance to contain the disease, see to the treatment of victims and protect others from being infected. The resolutions of the Senate followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abba Moro (PDP – Benue South) during plenary.
Senator Moro named the alleged victims of the epidemic to include Happiness Ogbo, Onajobi Ogbedu, Wisdom Agwo, Andy Edu, “all of whom died 48 hours after contacting the undiagnosed disease.”
He added that the disease, which is yet to be diagnosed by health authorities and medical experts in Benue State, has symptoms such as headache, internal heat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache, weakness of the body and swollen stomach.
“As at Monday, February 3, 2020, the number of persons affected with the strange epidemic has risen to 104,” Senator Moro said.
