So maybe it's not a mix of gastroenteritis and malaria. Via Kogi Reports: NCDC Counters Kogi Govt, Says Cause of Strange Killer Disease Not Yet Identified. Excerpt:
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, says tests are ongoing in their collaborating laboratories to ascertain the cause of the strange illness in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Saka Audu, had earlier on Sunday said that the unknown disease has been diagnosed to be gastroenteritis.
According to a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the centre said its Event Based Surveillance (EBS) system on August 1 detected the news of a strange illness in Kogi State.
“In addition to this, we had received a report of a strange illness in Kwara State a week before. Our Surveillance Team immediately contacted the State Epidemiology Teams of both states.
“Preliminary findings from the states showed that some cases presented with symptoms fit the case definition of Lassa fever.
“However, laboratory test came out negative for Lassa fever and tests are now being carried out for other viral diseases in one of our collaborating laboratories,’’ the statement quoted.
According to the centre, the Kogi State Epidemiology Team, led by the State Commissioner of Health, “visited the towns said to be affected by the strange illness and found five cases with mild illness.
“The patients were treated and discharged immediately. No other cases or deaths of unknown illness have been identified.
“However, samples for routine laboratory investigation have been taken from the sick and results are being awaited.
“The NCDC is supporting Kogi and Kwara States in ongoing investigations and our Rapid Response Teams are ready to be deployed as required.”
