No fewer than 34 residents of Sokoto are currently receiving treatment at a specialist hospital following an outbreak of heavy metal poisoning in the state.
The victims, who are mainly farmers from Tureta Local Government Area, have been hospitalised for over a week.
The state government said it was working to contain the outbreak, which has drawn the attention of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
According to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Wurno, additional cases had been reported in multiple local government areas, with some patients receiving palliative treatment at general hospitals.
Wurno said: “A high-level stakeholders’ meeting has been convened to strategise on effective case management and containment measures. All principal health officers have been put on high alert, and necessary medical supplies are being dispatched to affected areas.
“The exact source of the poisoning remains under investigation. While previous studies have pointed to contamination from heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium, the NCDC, alongside the Africa CDC, is conducting further research to confirm the primary cause. Samples collected two weeks ago are currently being analysed.
“Treatment and feeding for affected patients are ongoing under the directive of the governor. We are awaiting scientific confirmation of the cause before taking decisive action to prevent future occurrences,” he said.
While concerns have been raised about possible links to illegal mining activities, Wurno emphasised that regulatory measures would only be implemented once conclusive evidence is obtained.
“We must base our actions on scientific findings rather than speculation.”
