Nigeria lead poisoning kills over 100 children

Health officials in Nigeria are reporting the death of more than 100 children as a result of lead poisoning in recent weeks.



Officials say the number has been rising since March, when residents started digging illegally for gold in areas with high concentrations of lead.



The victims were from several remote villages in the northern state of Zamfara.



According to Dr Henry Akpan, the health ministry\'s chief epidemiologist, a total of 163 out of 355 cases of poisoning have proved fatal.



He says the victims were poisoned while digging for gold in areas that had large concentrations of lead.



Health authorities have set up two camps in the area to treat people who are suffering symptoms of lead poisoning.