Rare Flesh-Eating Disease Affects 28 in Adamawa State

Health officials in Adamawa State have confirmed the outbreak of a rare disease that has left at least 28 people infected, with symptoms that eat away flesh and damage bones.

                                   

The Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Suleiman Bashir, disclosed the development on Saturday.

Dr. Bashir confirmed that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Abuja has received specimens from patients for histology and laboratory analysis, with results expected within ten days.

The state government has sponsored treatment at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, though only 8 of the 28 patients have accepted hospital care.

Reports suggest the outbreak is most severe in Malabu community, Fufore LGA. Locals described how the illness begins as a boil, bursts, and then gradually erodes flesh and bones.

• Mrs. Phibi Sabo, a patient, said the infection ruined her leg bones after starting as a boil.

• Junaidu Adamu, another victim, revealed he has spent over ₦200,000 on treatment in two months without recovery.

• Aliyu Hammawa, District Head of Malabu, estimated that at least 30 people have been affected, with some treated at MAUTH while others rely on local or traditional care.

The outbreak highlights:

• Ongoing healthcare gaps in rural Nigeria

• The tension between traditional medicine and modern treatment

• Concerns about the country’s preparedness for emerging diseases

Dr. Bashir urged residents to report unusual health symptoms early and seek professional medical care instead of relying solely on traditional remedies.