Updated | ‘Mysterious disease’ in Nigeria believed to be pesticide

Nigerian officials had previously said that a 'mysterious' disease had killed some 18 people in the country and initial tests rule out Ebola or any other virus but point to pesticides

'Mysterious' disease claims the lives of 18 people in Nigeria, while initial tests rule out Ebola
'Mysterious' disease claims the lives of 18 people in Nigeria, while initial tests rule out Ebola

A spokesman for the WHO said that tests done so far had been negative for viral and bacterial infections and that the current theory was that the deaths were caused by weedkiller.

The WHO spokesman, Gregory Haertl, said in a tweet; "Current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides" and "Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection."

The tests were carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the WHO said.

According to Nigerian officials the ‘mysterious’ disease has killed at least 18 people in the past several days in south-eastern Nigeria. The outbreak which started in the Ode-Irele town, Ondo state, has spread considerably rapidly.

The 'disease' is characterised by blurred vision, headache and loss of consciousness and it killed its victims within 24 hours of falling ill.

The AFP reports that local health officials and World Health Organization experts are now in the town to try to identify the disease, and laboratory tests have so far ruled out Ebola or any other virus according to the Ondo government spokesman Kayode Akinmade, who also described the illness as "mysterious".

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told the AFP that all of those affected started showing symptoms between 13-15 April.

State health commissioner Dayo Adeyanju told Nigeria's Premium Times that the unidentified disease appeared to be attacking the central nervous system.