The death toll from a mysterious outbreak in the Gindiye community of Jenkwe Development Area of Nasarawa State has risen to six, following the death of Lydia Ezekiel, a 22-year-old student of Ipere College of Education, Agyaragu.
Lydia passed away on Thursday morning at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, just days after five children in the community succumbed to similar symptoms.
The deceased children, aged between five and 15, died on Monday and Tuesday after suffering from severe stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Lydia’s death brings the total number of fatalities to six, deepening concerns over the unidentified disease.
A community leader, Samuel Akala, confirmed the tragic developments, noting that Ezekiel Agidi, a local farmer, lost three of his children, while another resident, Baba, lost two of his children, along with his six-year-old nephew, Rejoice Friday.
Akala, who also serves as the Publicity Secretary of the Migili Youth Association (MYA), revealed that all the deceased children shared the same maternal grandmother.
In response to the outbreak, the Nasarawa State Government has deployed health workers to the Gindiye community.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Grace Tsakpa, indicated that food poisoning is a leading suspicion, as the incident occurred after the affected families ate food prepared at their farm.
Dr. Tsakpa explained, “For now, we have taken samples from the other family members, but our suspicion is going towards food poisoning.
“This is because the incident happened after they ate food at the farm. The five children belong to two brothers. The family (parents and children) went to the farm, cooked there and ate.
“It was on the farm that one of the children started complaining of abdominal pains, and he later died. The other four children also died after developing symptoms.”