You are here
Pesticides likely behind 'mysterious killer disease' in Nigeria
Primary tabs
Pesticides likely behind 'mysterious killer disease' in Nigeria
Sun, 2015-04-19 10:34 — mike kraftDeutsche Welle April 19, 2015
Eighteen people died under mysterious circumstances in southwest Nigeria this week, sparking fears of a new infectious disease outbreak. Weed killer was the likely cause, the World Health Organization has now said.
When over a dozen men in the village of Ode Irele in southwestern Ondo state who complained of similar symptoms all died within a day, alarm bells began to ring. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no reason to suspect any outbreak of infectious disease, such as Ebola, which has claimed over 10,000 lives in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
The "current hypothesis is herbicides," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said on Sunday, adding: "Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection."
The victims began showing symptoms between April 13 and 15, including blurred vision and loss of consciousness, and Ondo spokesman Kayode Akinmade said it was due to a "mysterious killer disease."
Read complete story
http://www.dw.de/pesticides-likely-behind-mysterious-killer-disease-in-nigeria/a-18392606
See previous stories,
Recent Comments