What is happening in this small village in the Ivory Coast?
Twelve children have died of a mysterious illness since December in Kpo-Kahankro.
“We recorded six deaths in December 2022, three on Friday January 20, and three more this Thursday, which brings the total number of deaths to twelve”, explained Paul Kouassi, the president of a youth association in the village, located a few kilometers from the city of Bouaké.
"The age of the victims varies between one and eight years," he added, adding that the children suddenly start to stiffen up and vomit.
François Kouakou Guié, a resident of the village who lost his 18-month-old granddaughter on Thursday, asked the authorities to find "the origin of this evil" and that they "put an end to it".
While confirming the toll of twelve children who have died since the beginning of December.
Waiting for results
Two ministers had moved to this village in December after the first deaths, and some patients had been taken care of at the Bouaké University Hospital.
“We don't know what's going on.
The government took samples from the first bodies in December and the results are still awaited.
After the three deaths on Thursday, patients were again transferred to the Bouaké University Hospital,” lamented Paul Kouassi.
Reached by telephone, a hospital source wishing to remain anonymous confirmed to AFP that sick children from this village were admitted to the Bouaké University Hospital on Thursday.
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World
Ivory Coast
Health
Illness
Child