The federal government has begun laboratory investigations to determine the exact cause of a strange flesh-eating disease that has claimed seven lives in Malabu, Adamawa State.
Dr. Adesigbin Olufemi, Acting National Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme, disclosed this during an interview in Abuja.
As of September 10, there were 67 confirmed cases, with eight patients undergoing surgical treatment at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola.
“These patients are receiving surgical treatment with government support,” Olufemi said, emphasising the coordinated efforts to manage the medical emergency in affected communities.
The disease often begins as a boil, which later bursts and gradually eats away flesh, sometimes damaging bones in the affected area.
Although the exact cause remains unknown, Buruli Ulcer is suspected. Olufemi explained that the disease is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, a bacterium commonly found in swampy environments and around stagnant riverine ecosystems. The exact mode of transmission is uncertain, though insects like water fleas or mosquitoes are thought to play a role.
Olufemi praised the proactive response of the Adamawa State Government, alongside support from federal agencies and the non-governmental partner REDAID, which arrived on site on September 14. Patients with mild symptoms are being treated at local health centres, while severe cases requiring surgery are referred to specialised hospitals.
He highlighted public sensitisation as critical, noting that some residents initially blamed the disease on witchcraft, which delayed proper treatment. “One of the things that is very important, and that’s what we are doing, is to continue to create awareness,” Olufemi said, urging residents to seek medical care early.
Malabu, he explained, is a remote community about two hours from Yola, with poor road access that complicates swift medical response.
Olufemi stressed that long-term health security requires more than medical care; access to clean water and improved sanitation in rural communities is also essential. “People will not need to go to those rivers to fetch water if they have pipe-borne or borehole water nearby. That way, they are less exposed,” he said.
He assured the public that federal and state governments, supported by health partners, remain committed to treating patients and curbing further transmission.
The World Health Organisation recognises Buruli Ulcer as one of the world’s most neglected tropical diseases, mostly affecting rural, riverine communities with limited access to healthcare.
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