Dr. Jide Idris, the Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, recently coordinated an urgent session with the Health Commissioners from Sokoto, Kaduna, and Zamfara states to investigate and manage the spreading mysterious illness in Sokoto and Zamfara.
A press release issued by Dr. Idris and obtained from the NCDC website revealed that the meeting took place at the NCDC Headquarters in Abuja.
“The emergency meeting, hosted by the NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, engaged with two Health Commissioners from Sokoto and Kaduna on April 16, 2024, at the NCDC headquarters in Abuja. Additionally, a phone discussion was held with Zamfara’s Health Commissioner in efforts to uncover the cause and address the ongoing incidents in Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“The discussion with the Health Commissioners – Asabe Balarabe, Dr. Aisha Anka, and Umma Ahmed, focused on the current scenario, provided updates on response initiatives, and agreed on further steps to handle the suspected heavy metal poisoning primarily associated with mining activities,” the statement read.
On April 9, the NCDC chief mentioned that investigations were ongoing regarding the unidentified illness identified in six wards in Sokoto State.
Dr. Idris stated that a National Rapid Response Team had been dispatched to collaborate with the Sokoto State Ministry of Health to address the incidents.
Furthermore, Dr. Idris highlighted that the initial clinical evaluations and examinations of the cases at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto ruled out infectious origins, prompting a search for other potential causes.
The preliminary heavy metal tests for the index case and initial suspected cases revealed varying levels of lead and chromium in the blood, indicating potential exposure to these metals emitted largely from industrial activities like mining, along with mercury.
“These heavy metals are known to be released into the air due to industrial operations, including mining, leading to soil accumulation. They can contaminate water sources and plants through soil retention. Exposure to heavy metals through air, soil, plants, or water poses risks to organs like kidneys, brain, liver, bones, and can lead to various cancers, depending on the specific metal.
“High-risk groups include pregnant women, infants, children, illegal miners, industrial workers, etc. The effects of heavy metal exposure can be immediate or long-term,” the statement mentioned.
There have been 196 reported suspected cases of the mysterious illness with seven fatalities across Isa, Sabon Birni, and Ilella Local Government Areas in Sokoto State so far.
The NCDC encouraged healthcare providers and affected communities to report any symptoms such as fever, abdominal swelling and pain, nausea, weight loss, to the nearest healthcare facility or contact the NCDC toll-free line on 6232.
The statement affirmed the NCDC’s commitment to collaborating closely with the impacted states to effectively manage the situations and assured the public of continuous updates as new information emerges.
Policy makers were advised to enforce regulations on mining operations in their states and discourage artisanal mining practices.