A flesh-eating skin disease suspected to be Buruli ulcer has resurfaced in Adamawa State, with 23 patients, including six women and two children, currently receiving medical care at the Yola Specialist Hospital.
The fresh outbreak was recorded in Malabu District of Fufore Local Government Area, the same community where a similar epidemic occurred barely a month ago.
In September, SaharaReporters reported that eight residents of Malabu lost their lives following an outbreak of what health authorities then described as a suspected Buruli ulcer.
Confirming the latest development, the Adamawa State Epidemiologist, Stephen Kadabiu Jones, said, “Yes, we brought them on Tuesday.
He described the situation as ‘deeply concerning,’ adding that the ministry had mobilised rapid response teams to contain the spread and provide urgent medical intervention.”
“We are monitoring the situation closely and ensuring that all affected persons receive the necessary care,” Jones told SaharaReporters.
The news of the resurgence has thrown Malabu community into panic, with residents still struggling to understand the cause and mode of transmission of the deadly disease.
Some patients who spoke to SaharaReporters shortly after arriving at the hospital recounted their ordeal.
One of them described how the infection starts, “It usually starts as a painless swelling or nodule, sometimes as a firm, raised lump, or a thickened patch of skin.
Within days, it eats deep into the fleshs.”
According to Jones, the State Epidemiologist, Buruli ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, a bacterium belonging to the same family as those responsible for tuberculosis and leprosy.“
It thrives mostly in rural tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and stagnant water bodies,” he explained.
Buruli ulcer, first identified in Nigeria decades ago, has been reported intermittently in parts of the Southwest and North-central regions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies it as a neglected tropical disease, noting that delayed treatment often leads to severe deformities, disability, or death.
Health authorities in Adamawa say surveillance and awareness campaigns have been intensified, while community health workers have been deployed to sensitize residents on early symptoms and prompt reporting.
Despite these efforts, the recurrence within weeks has raised serious public health concerns about environmental risk factors and possible lapses in containment measures.
“This is not just a medical issue; it’s a community and environmental health challenge,” a health worker at the specialist hospital cautioned.
“Without urgent and coordinated action, the disease could spread beyond Malabu.”
