Adamawa State is grappling with a mysterious outbreak that has left at least 28 residents suffering from a rare disease that progressively destroys flesh and bones.
Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Suleiman Bashir, confirmed the outbreak to journalists on Saturday, noting that some patients are receiving care at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola.
Specimens have also been sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in Abuja for detailed analysis, with results expected within the next 10 days.
He urged residents to seek proper medical attention rather than relying on traditional remedies, highlighting that only eight of the 28 identified victims have accepted treatment at MAUTH despite the government covering all costs.
The disease appears most concentrated in Malabu, a community in Fufore Local Government Area. Residents described the illness as beginning with a painful boil that eventually bursts, gradually consuming surrounding flesh and damaging bones.
One patient, Mrs. Phibi Sabo, recounted her ordeal, “It started as a painful boil, which later swelled and burst. It then began eating the flesh on my leg, damaging the bones and causing severe pain. I have visited the hospital and received treatment, but the wound remains open.”
Junaidu Adamu, another victim, said he had spent over ₦200,000 on medical care over two months without improvement.
Malabu’s District Head, Aliyu Hammawa, confirmed that at least 30 people have been affected, with eight currently receiving treatment at MAUTH while others continue to manage the condition in local facilities or at home.
Health officials have appealed to residents to report unusual symptoms promptly to prevent further spread.
This outbreak marks another alarming entry in Nigeria’s history of rare and deadly health crises.
