The Benue State Government has shut down Vaatia College in Makurdi, following the outbreak of strange disease.
The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Joseph Ngbea, in a chat with newsmen on Monday revealed that five students of the secondary school were hit by the strange illness.
The commissioner who described the illness as ‘Orepa syndrome’, said that the students experienced paresis.
According to the commissioner, the school was shut to avoid any possible spread.
His words: “Five students were affected, three are 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.”
The Voice gathered that in compliance with the directive from the state government, the management of school had sent out notice to parents and guardians to pick up their children and wards. Parents have since picked up their children.
