'Mysterious' Disease Kills 18 In Nigeria

A "mysterious disease" has claimed the lives of up to 18 people in Nigeria, the government has revealed.

The disease, whose symptoms include headaches and blurred vision, has been blighting the southern town of Ode-Irele, in Ondo state since it was first discovered earlier this week.

"Twenty-three people (were affected) and 18 deaths were recorded," the Ondo state health commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, told news agency AFP.

Government spokesman for the state, Kayode Akinmade said the victims had lost their lives within a day of falling ill.

Laboratory tests have so far ruled out Ebola or any other virus, he said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed it is investigating the reports, saying it was aware of 14 cases with at least 12 dead.

"Common symptoms were sudden blurred vision, headache, loss of consciousness followed by death, occurring within 24 hours," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.

He added that samples from two victims were being examined by experts at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Another WHO spokesman, Gregory Hartl, said that a preliminary report indicates that all those affected began showing symptoms between 13 and 15 April.

He said government health officials and experts sent by aid agencies and WHO have now arrived in the town to conduct further investigations.