Rare flesh-eating disease infects 28 in Adamawa

Adamawa Records Outbreak of Rare Flesh-Eating Disease, 28 Infected

Health officials in Adamawa State have confirmed an outbreak of a rare and dangerous disease that eats away human flesh and destroys bones, leaving victims with severe wounds.

Dr. Suleiman Bashir, Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, disclosed the development on Saturday, noting that at least 28 cases have so far been identified.

According to him, specimens from patients have been sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Abuja for histology and further analysis, with results expected within 10 days.

“Out of the 28 cases, only eight have accepted treatment at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, even though the state government is covering the costs,” Bashir said.

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He urged residents to avoid relying on traditional remedies and instead seek immediate medical care whenever strange symptoms appear in their communities.

The outbreak is said to be most severe in Malabu, Fufore Local Government Area, where residents report that the illness begins as a boil, bursts, and then progressively eats into flesh until bones are damaged.

One victim, Mrs. Phibi Sabo, recounted how a small boil on her leg developed into an open wound that eventually destroyed parts of her bone. Another patient, Junaidu Adamu, said he had already spent more than ₦200,000 on treatment over the past two months without recovery.

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The District Head of Malabu, Aliyu Hammawa, also confirmed that at least 30 people in his community had been affected, with some receiving treatment at MAUTH while others remain in local clinics or at home.

The outbreak has heightened concern over Nigeria’s readiness to respond to emerging diseases and highlighted the deep divide between modern healthcare services and traditional practices in rural areas.