64 students hospitalised after being administered Bilharzia drug in Katsina

Sixty-four students from Government Science Secondary School in Batagarawa, Katsina State, were hospitalized after reportedly experiencing adverse reactions to medications administered during a Bilharzia treatment and prevention campaign. Symptoms reported by the students included vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and dizziness. The students were transported to Ahmadi Rimi General Hospital and Turai Yar’Adua Maternal and Child Hospital in Katsina, where some were reportedly unconscious upon arrival.

Dr. Auwal Sani, the Medical Director of Ahmadi Rimi General Hospital, stated that the affected students were currently responding to treatment. A parent confirmed to Daily Trust that his children are recovering from the reactions. The dosage of the medication varied among students, with some receiving three tablets, others two, and still others one, depending on their height.

It remains uncertain whether height alone determined the dosage or if other clinical factors were considered. Yusuf Sulaiman Jibia, the Katsina State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, confirmed that all affected students have recovered and are being prepared to return to school. He assured the public that there is no cause for alarm and that the government would investigate the incident to determine what went wrong.

Bilharzia, also known as schistosomiasis, is a parasitic disease linked to exposure to contaminated freshwater. The cause of the students' reactions remains unclear, though officials have stated that preventive treatment programs are conducted in affected communities to curb the disease's spread.