Zamfara State lead poisoning outbreak

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Zamfara State lead poisoning outbreak
DateMarch - June 2010
LocationZamfara State, Nigeria
Casualties
163+ dead
355 cases discovered

A series of

Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health figures, state the discovery of 355 cases[1] with 46 percent proving fatal.[3][4] It was one of the many lead poisoning epidemics with low and middle income countries. By 2022, Médecins Sans Frontières stated that conditions had greatly improved after years of a lead poisoning intervention programme.[5]

Findings

An annual immunization programme in Northern Nigeria led to the discovery of a high number of child deaths in the area. [citation needed] An investigation

Blacksmith Institute (renamed Pure Earth) was called in by the Nigerian authorities to assist in the removal of toxic lead.[citation needed
]

It is thought that the poisonings were caused by the illegal extraction of ore by villagers, who take crushed rock home with them to extract.[6] This results in the soil being contaminated from lead which then poisons people through hand-to-mouth contamination.[6] Others have been contaminated by contact with contaminated tools and water.[7]

Actions

In an effort to halt the epidemic, the authorities are clamping down on illegal mining and carrying out a clean-up of the area.[6] The number of cases has fallen since April when illegal mining in the area was halted, and some of the residents were evacuated.[7] Education on health and the dangers of lead mining is also being given to local people.[6] It is hoped that the clean-up can be completed prior to the start of the rainy season in July, which will spread contaminants, though it is being hampered by the remoteness of the villages and Muslim restrictions preventing men from entering some compounds.[7][8]

Those who died came from several villages.

Local Government Areas of Anka and Bungudu were affected.[2]

Treatment

Two treatment camps were established by health authorities to deal with the crisis.

dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) chelation therapy deployed to 3,180 children by MSF is associated with a substantial reduction in the mortality rate of observed and potential lead poisoning cases.[10]

See also

Wikinews has related news:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Nigeria – lead poisoning kills 100 children in north". BBC News. BBC. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  2. ^
    Independent News & Media
    . 4 June 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  3. ^ Yahaya, Sahabi (4 June 2010). "Lead poisoning from mining kills 163 in Nigeria". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  4. PMID 22766030
    .
  5. ^ Oluwaseun, Adebowale (11 February 2022). "MSF Says Children No Longer Dying Of Lead Poisoning In Northwest Nigeria". HumAngle. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "Lead poisoning kills 163 in Nigeria: health official". AFP. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  7. ^ a b c "Lead poisoning from mining kills 163 in Nigeria". Reuters. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  8. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/06/13/nigeria.lead.clean.up/index.html CNN: Lead clean-up in Nigerian village is life-or-death race against time
  9. ^ "Lead poisoning disaster in Nigeria | PRI's the World". Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010. Public Radio International's The World, Interview with Blacksmith President Richard Fuller
  10. PMID 25291378
    .
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