Tragedy struck Mbutu Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State as an outbreak of a mysterious disease has reportedly claimed the lives of no fewer than six children aged between one and six.
The unsettling development has left residents in panic as authorities race to contain the spread.
Barr. Henry Alaribe, the Executive Chairman of Aboh Mbaise Council, confirmed the fatalities in a statement issued on Tuesday through his spokesman, Dike Godspower.
He revealed that new cases have emerged, though these are yet to be officially confirmed.
In an effort to halt the spread and safeguard children, Alaribe announced the temporary closure of all schools in the area and the suspension of the May 27 Children’s Day celebration.
“We are doing everything possible to curb this outbreak and ensure the safety of our children. WHO officials have arrived in the area to assist with containment efforts,” Alaribe explaned.
The council has designated local health centers as isolation facilities for suspected carriers of the disease. A
Also, Alaribe said he has forwarded detailed information about the victims, including their names, ages, and their parents’ contact details, to Governor Hope Uzodimma to seek further state-level intervention.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Imo State Ministry of Health, along with health staff from Aboh Mbaise, are actively investigating the outbreak,” Alaribe said.
Parents in the area have been urged to vaccinate their children immediately as vaccinations are seen as a critical step in preventing further casualties.
It was observed that the mysterious outbreak has thrown the entire Mbutu Community into deep anxiety, with calls for urgent and decisive action to contain the situation.
Efforts are ongoing to identify the cause of the disease, as authorities collaborate with health experts and state officials to bring the crisis under control.
