Cholera outbreak hits Lagos; 3 dead

Three persons have been confirmed dead as cholera outbreak hit Lagos.

The Lagos State Government in a prompt response has moved to stop the spread of the disease.

At an emergency news conference at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Wednesday, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris confirmed that 13 cases of cholera infection had been reported and that three persons have died so far while some had been treated and discharged from the hospital.

Idris explained that investigations carried out by the ministry had revealed that the suspected cases recorded were contracted from food sources such as the African food salad popularly called ‘Abasha’, well-water sources, especially in areas like Ikare community, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government area and Badia area of Apapa Local Government area, and other infected foods from food sellers, and other unhygienic habits.

Other suspected areas are Ajeromi, Lagos Island, Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere Local Government.

He urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility and the Directorate of Disease Control in the state Ministry of Health.

Idris described cholera as an acute contagious bacterial disease that is characterized by severe form of sudden onset of profuse painless watery stools, nausea and profuse vomiting.

He added that cholera is acquired through the ingestion of an infective dose of contaminated food or water and could be transmitted through many mechanisms like direct or indirect contamination of water or food by faeces of infected individuals.

“Cholera should be suspected in any person who develops diarrhoea with or without vomiting, weakness, restlessness, irritability, dry mucous membrane, low blood pressure, leg cramps, excessive loss of body fluids (dehydration) or dies from frequent stooling, hence, adequate measures should be taken in order to reduce the risk of contracting the disease,” he stated.

The commissioner listed measures to be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the disease as washing of hands with soaps and water frequently and thoroughly; boiling of water before drinking if the source of the water was in doubts; washing of fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating; cooking of food thoroughly before eating; disposing of waste material properly; and keeping of water containers clean.

Idris pointed out that in the case of suspected cholera, members of the public should prepare oral rehydration solution (10 level teaspoonful of sugar and one level teaspoonful of salt in two 35cl bottles); give the suspect a lot of fluids to drink; keeps giving the suspect food as soon as it could be tolerated; and thereafter visit the nearest hospital whether the condition of the suspect improves or not.

He urged health workers to be on the alert and report suspected outbreak of more than five cases in their facilities to the State Ministry of Health, saying that people could also call the following numbers: 08023169485 or 0802321333 for assistance.

Cholera Outbreak: 8 Killed, 61 Hospitalized In Plateau

No fewer than eight people have died and
61 hospitalized in a community where
people displaced by communal conflicts live
in Plateau state, following an outbreak of
cholera. Medical authorities confirmed an outbreak
of the disease in Namu village in the
Qua’pan Local Government Area of the
state. Namu, a village at the Plateau and Nasarawa
States border, hosts displaced people in the
violent crisis that broke out in the Obi Local
Government Area of Nasarawa State. “Yes, there has been an outbreak of cholera
in Namu village, eight people have been
killed while 61 others have been
hospitalised,” the Plateau State
Epidemiologist, Dr Raymond Yuryit, said in
Namu on Sunday. Mr Yuryit spoke when he received Alhassan
Barde, the Executive Secretary of the
Plateau State Emergency Management
Agency (SEMA), who had gone to assess the
situation. He said that those hospitalized had been
diagnosed with the disease and were
admitted into various health centres. Mr Yuryit attributed the outbreak to
overcrowding, dirty environment and the
consumption of unhygienic food and water. Cholera kills within the shortest possible
time because it dehydrates the victim,
leading to severe gastro-intestinal impact. The medical expert explained further that
the Namu victims suffered chronic
diarrhoea and vomiting, saying that many
had been hit by the disease before
government intervened. The specialist said that the epidemic was
not altogether a surprise as the area had
lots of internally-displaced persons from
Nasarawa State, a development that had put
much pressure on the environment and
portable drinking water. “But we are happy that the situation is
already under control,” he said. The epidemiologist explained that he had
advised health workers in private and
government health centres on ways to avert
a recurrence of the ailment and also on how
to quickly manage the situation if it arose. He thanked the Plateau and Nasarawa
States governments for their quick
response to the report, lauding the SEMAs
for their massive support. He called on government at all levels to
ensure that the monthly sanitation exercise
was taken seriously, especially in rural
areas, to ensure good hygiene for rural
dwellers. Mr Juryit also appealed to government to
provide portable water to rural dwellers,
pointing out that dirty water was the main
cause of the epidemic. He called on people in the area to promptly
report any case of diarrhoea or vomiting to
the nearest health centre, saying that quick
action could minimise casualty rates. Mr Barde, in his remarks, said that the quick
intervention by the agency was part of its
statutory mandate, promising to continue to
offer quick assistance to areas in need. The SEMA chief said that the agency
intervened to avert the possibility of the
disease spreading to other parts of the
state, calling on relevant agencies to assist
in the management of disaster cases. He thanked the Nasarawa Government for
donating drugs that would be distributed to
various health centres.