Strange illness hits Benue as Ortom shuts down secondary school
- Benue state government has closed Vaatia College in Makurdi over a strange illness
- The notice was given on Sunday, February 14, by the state commissioner of health, Joseph Ngbea
- Ngbea said that five students of the school were hit by the strange illness
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Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has ordered the closure of a secondary school, Vaatia College, in Makurdi, the capital of the state, following the outbreak of a strange disease.
Nigerian Tribune reports that following the shutdown, the school authority had sent a notice to parents and guardians, on Sunday, February 14, to pick up their children and wards.
Legit.ng gathered that five students of the school were reported to have been hit with the strange illness and hospitalized at teaching hospital and Madonna hospital all in Makurdi.
Source: Twitter
The newspaper that visited the school on Monday, February 15, said some parents and guardians were seen picking up their children and wards.
Joseph Ngbea, the state commissioner for health and human services, said that five students of the school were hit by the strange illness.
The commissioner described the strange illness as ‘Orepa syndrome” saying that that the students experienced paresis.
He said five students of the school were hit adding that the school was shut to avoid any possible spread.
Ngbea said:
“Five students were affected, three at the Teaching Hospital and one of them is doing well while two others are at Madonna hospital (a private hospital). You know that Nigeria is in the process of certification of polio-free, now, we saw that some students were having paresis. (not completely paralysis). They are actually doing well.
“Since there is no paralysis, polio is completely ruled out. So it is called Orepa syndrome, we are trying to look at that, they are being treated, for now, there is no diagnosis at the teaching hospital."
When asked if the disease is contagious, the commissioner said:
“It is autoimmune. That is why we shut down the school, the biology of the virus, we want to look into it, it is contagious, that is why we asked them to close down the school. Benue govt shuts down secondary school over strange illness."
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson revealed that for schools to reopen, the country must turn to data before making any decision.
It was reported that the prime minister, according to BBC News also promised that his government would do everything possible to get schools back on March 8.
He disclosed this while giving updates on what his government is doing to get the people vaccinated.
Wale Akinola is a passionate journalist and researcher. He works as a senior political/current affairs editor at Legit.ng. He holds both B.A and Master’s degree in Communications and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a Diploma Certificate in Peace Journalism. He has over 15 years of work experience in both print and online media. He derives joy in keeping the public abreast of current happenings locally and internationally through his writings.
Source: Legit.ng
