The Federal Government has launched urgent laboratory investigations to uncover the cause of a mysterious flesh-eating disease that has killed seven people and infected dozens more in Malabu, a remote community in Adamawa State.
Health authorities confirmed that at least 67 cases have been recorded, with eight patients currently receiving surgical treatment at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH) in Yola.
According to officials, the strange illness typically begins like a small boil, which later bursts and progressively destroys flesh and, in severe cases, even bone tissue.
Residents initially mistook the condition for witchcraft, a misconception that delayed timely medical care and allowed the disease to spread.
Early investigations suggest the outbreak may be Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, but samples have been dispatched to national reference laboratories for definitive confirmation.
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Federal and state health teams, working alongside non-governmental organisations, are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak.
Medical experts have been deployed to provide treatment, raise awareness, and educate locals on early symptoms to encourage prompt reporting of suspected cases.
Malabu’s difficult terrain, located about two hours from Yola with poor road access and limited clean water, has complicated response measures, but emergency interventions are being scaled up to improve surveillance and care.
Authorities urge residents to seek immediate medical attention for any suspicious skin lesions while laboratory results are awaited. Until the exact cause is confirmed, the government continues to monitor the situation closely and is stepping up both treatment and preventive strategies to halt further fatalities.
