Disease that killed 62 in Kogi identified as gastroenteritis

The Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, has said that the strange disease that has killed 62 persons in the state has been identified to be gastroenteritis.

The commissioner told newsmen on Sunday in Lokoja that those so far diagnosed were found to be suffering from gastroenteritis and malaria.

He, therefore, called for calm saying the government was on top of the situation.

Gastroenteritis according to experts is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that typically makes its presence known in the form of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. In severe cases, bleeding may occur in stools.

The state Ministry of Health in a statement on Sunday noted that the disease killed many people in Okunran, Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa in Yagba West Local Government Area.

Audu stated, “The current information available to us is that the disease actually started six weeks ago in Okoloke village in Yagba West, which is a settlement that is predominantly inhabited by Fulani herdsmen.

“There have been cases of reported deaths following abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea, but the patients who showed signs of illness had since been evacuated and transported to Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja, for better treatment.

“So far, we have evacuated 39 patients from Okoloke area and only six of them were admitted and have shown significant sign of improvement while others have since been discharged.

“Out of the six that were admitted, three of them were diagnosed with gastroenteritis and the remaining three were just cases of malaria, and they have shown remarkable signs of improvement.”

The commissioner stressed that the disease was not Lassa fever as laboratory results of samples taken from the victims to Irrua General Hospital, Edo State proved negative to the disease.