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[1] showed that they had been digging for gold at the times of their deaths, in an area where lead is prevalent.[1] It was thought by the villagers that all the children had contracted malaria but Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) found unusually high levels of lead in the blood during tests.[1] The BBC suggested the contamination of water may have contributed to the high mortality rate.[1]Blacksmith Institute (renamed Pure Earth) was called in by the Nigerian authorities to assist in the removal of toxic lead.
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]
Two treatment camps were established by health authorities to deal with the crisis.[1] The World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Blacksmith Institute assisted with the epidemic.[2] Federal health ministry epidemiologist Henry Akpan said: "We are working with the state ministry of health to give health education and create enlightenment on the dangers of illegal mining".[2] Nigeria's chief epidemiologist Dr. Henry Akpan announced the discovery of the epidemic on 4 June 2010. Blacksmith has been removing toxic lead from houses and compounds in the villages, so that surviving children returning from treatment will not be re-exposed to toxic lead in their homes.[9] The 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]
^. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010. Public Radio International's The World, Interview with Blacksmith President Richard Fuller
^Thurtle, Natalie; Greig, Jane; Cooney, Lauren; Amitai, Yona; Ariti, Cono; Brown, Mary Jean; Kosnett, Michael J.; Moussally, Krystel; Sani-Gwarzo, Nasir; Akpan, Henry; Shanks, Leslie; Dargan, Paul I. (7 October 2014). "Description of 3,180 Courses of Chelation with Dimercaptosuccinic Acid in Children ≤5 y with Severe Lead Poisoning in Zamfara, Northern Nigeria: A Retrospective Analysis of Programme Data". PLOS Medicine. Public Library of Science. 11 (10): e1001739. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001739. PMC4188566. PMID 25291378.
August 20, 2023
zamfara, state, lead, poisoning, outbreak, series, lead, poisonings, zamfara, state, nigeria, deaths, least, people, between, march, june, 2010, including, children, nigerian, federal, ministry, health, figures, state, discovery, cases, with, percent, proving,. A series of lead poisonings in Zamfara State Nigeria led to the deaths of at least 163 people between March and June 2010 1 including 111 children 2 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 Medecins Sans Frontieres stated that conditions had greatly improved after years of a lead poisoning intervention programme 5 Zamfara State lead poisoning outbreakDateMarch June 2010LocationZamfara State NigeriaCasualtiesAt least 163 dead355 cases discovered Contents 1 Findings 2 Actions 3 Treatment 4 See also 5 ReferencesFindings EditAn annual immunization programme in Northern Nigeria led to the discovery of a high number of child deaths in the area citation needed An investigation 1 showed that they had been digging for gold at the times of their deaths in an area where lead is prevalent 1 It was thought by the villagers that all the children had contracted malaria but Medecins Sans Frontieres MSF found unusually high levels of lead in the blood during tests 1 The BBC suggested the contamination of water may have contributed to the high mortality rate 1 Blacksmith Institute renamed Pure Earth was called in by the Nigerian authorities to assist in the removal of toxic lead 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 EditIn 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 1 Five villages in the Local Government Areas of Anka and Bungudu were affected 2 Treatment EditTwo treatment camps were established by health authorities to deal with the crisis 1 The World Health Organization Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Blacksmith Institute assisted with the epidemic 2 Federal health ministry epidemiologist Henry Akpan said We are working with the state ministry of health to give health education and create enlightenment on the dangers of illegal mining 2 Nigeria s chief epidemiologist Dr Henry Akpan announced the discovery of the epidemic on 4 June 2010 Blacksmith has been removing toxic lead from houses and compounds in the villages so that surviving children returning from treatment will not be re exposed to toxic lead in their homes 9 The 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 Edit Wikinews has related news 163 dead after lead poisoning in Nigeria 2009 2010 West African meningitis outbreak Related lists List of epidemics List of poisoningsReferences Edit 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 a b c d Lead poisoning kills 163 in Nigeria Independent Online South Africa Independent News amp Media 4 June 2010 Retrieved 4 June 2010 Yahaya Sahabi 4 June 2010 Lead poisoning from mining kills 163 in Nigeria Reuters Thomson Reuters Retrieved 4 June 2010 Lo Yi Chun Dooyema Carrie A Neri Antonio Durant James Jefferies Taran Medina Marino Andrew Ravello Lori de Thoroughman Douglas Davis Lora 2012 Childhood Lead Poisoning Associated with Gold Ore Processing a Village Level Investigation Zamfara State Nigeria October November 2010 Environmental Health Perspectives 120 10 1450 1455 doi 10 1289 ehp 1104793 PMC 3491928 PMID 22766030 Oluwaseun Adebowale MSF Says Children No Longer Dying Of Lead Poisoning In Northwest Nigeria HumAngle Retrieved 11 July 2023 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 a b c Lead poisoning from mining kills 163 in Nigeria Reuters 4 June 2010 Retrieved 4 June 2010 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 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 Thurtle Natalie Greig Jane Cooney Lauren Amitai Yona Ariti Cono Brown Mary Jean Kosnett Michael J Moussally Krystel Sani Gwarzo Nasir Akpan Henry Shanks Leslie Dargan Paul I 7 October 2014 Description of 3 180 Courses of Chelation with Dimercaptosuccinic Acid in Children 5 y with Severe Lead Poisoning in Zamfara Northern Nigeria A Retrospective Analysis of Programme Data PLOS Medicine Public Library of Science 11 10 e1001739 doi 10 1371 journal pmed 1001739 PMC 4188566 PMID 25291378 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zamfara State lead poisoning outbreak amp oldid 1164904649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
