The Senate has on Thursday raised an alarm over the outbreak of a “strange epidemic” that has killed 15 people and infected 105 people in Benue State.
It was revealed that the outbreak of the strange disease occurred on January 29, 2020, in Oye, Obi Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Senate is suspecting that the outbreak may be coronavirus epidemic which it said require urgent health measures to identify.
The upper chamber went on to urge the Federal Ministry of Health to urgently mobilise focal persons to the area to investigate and ascertain the nature of the disease.
The Senate also called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to promptly put up surveillance to contain the disease.
The upper chamber also directed the NCDC to ensure 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.
Leading the debate, Moro revealed some of the names of the victims of the strange disease as; Happiness Ogbo, Onajobi Ogbedu, Wisdom Agwo, Andy Edu, who all died 48 hours after contracting the undiagnosed disease.
He added that the disease is yet to be diagnosed by health authorities and medical experts in Benue State.
Senator Moro explained that the symptoms of this unknown disease are headache, internal heat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache, weakness of the body and swollen stomach.
In his statement, the Senator said
As at Monday, February 3, 2020, the number of persons affected with the strange epidemic has risen to 104.
