THE Niger State Government has commenced an investigation into a suspected infectious disease following reports that an illness claimed the life of a child and affected other members of the same family, while urging residents to remain calm and ensure their children complete routine immunisation.
News Point Nigeria reports that the development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director of Information Services in the Ministry of Information and Orientation, Yunusa Saidu, who explained that the Ministry of Health swiftly responded after a concerned father shared videos on social media alleging that a strange illness had affected his household.
Speaking during an assessment visit to the affected family, the Director of Public Health, Dr Ibrahim Idris, said the prompt intervention reflects the commitment of the administration of Governor Umaru Bago to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of residents across the state.
He stressed that every unexplained death deserves a comprehensive investigation and that every suspected disease outbreak must be treated with the utmost urgency.
Dr Idris disclosed that the affected children had been evacuated to a health facility for detailed medical evaluation and treatment, adding that preliminary clinical findings suggested that the illness might not be a strange disease but one already known to medical professionals.
According to him, diphtheria is among the conditions currently being considered by health authorities.
He, however, cautioned against speculation, insisting that no definitive conclusion could be reached until laboratory investigations had been completed.
“At this stage, no definitive conclusion can be made until laboratory investigations are completed. The samples collected will help determine the exact cause of the illness and guide the response,” he said.
Dr Idris further revealed that public health officials had commenced contact tracing within the affected community and the schools attended by the children in a bid to identify anyone exhibiting similar symptoms and prevent possible transmission.
He advised parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive all recommended routine immunisations, noting that many life-threatening diseases could be prevented through vaccination.
The public health director also urged residents to seek immediate medical attention whenever unusual symptoms are observed.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA), Dr Junaidu Inuwa, disclosed that preliminary findings showed that the deceased child had received only partial immunisation, while some of the surviving children were either partially immunised or had not completed their vaccination schedules.
According to him, the findings underscore the critical role of routine immunisation in protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases and reducing childhood mortality.
He assured residents that health authorities would continue to provide updates as investigations progress and appealed to the public to remain calm and cooperate fully with health officials.
The health team also visited the Isolation Centre at the General Hospital, where the Executive Director of the Hospital Management Board confirmed that all affected family members had been placed on appropriate antibiotic treatment and were receiving adequate medical care.
Health authorities added that if laboratory tests eventually confirm an infectious disease, surveillance activities would be intensified, contact tracing expanded and other public health measures implemented to contain any possible spread.
The Niger State Government reiterated that complete routine immunisation remains the safest and most effective protection against vaccine-preventable diseases and urged parents and guardians to take advantage of immunisation services available at health facilities across the state.