Scores Dead In Northern Nigeria Cholera Outbreak

cholera (1)

No fewer than five people have been confirmed dead, following the outbreak of cholera in Barkeji village, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The deaths which were said to have occurred on Sunday, involved two males and three females ranging between the ages of 20 and 28 years.

Confirming the incident, Chairman of the council, Alhaji Sambo Modo, said the council had mobilised adequate drugs at the community dispensary in Barkeji village.

He stated that the situation had been brought under control, while those infected by disease were currently receiving treatment.

Modo sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives and prayed against future occurrence.

Acting Director of Health in the council, Malam Bala Oroji, while commenting on the outbreak attributed the incident to environmental factors.

He stated that out of the 11 people infected, seven persons were currently receiving treatment at a dispensary in the village while four persons had been discharged.

Orji revealed that the residents of the village had been sensitised on the need to ensure proper personal hygiene to avert the scourge.

“The cholera outbreak was as a result of environmental factors which led to the death of five adults in Barkeji village while 11 people were infected.

“So, we advised the residents of the village to ensure adequate personal hygiene and also clean their surroundings and toilets. We stressed the need for them to wash their food properly before eating and drinking potable water,” Oroji said.

Oroji, therefore, urged the residents of the village to report any outbreak of the disease to the council for quick intervention.

Meanwhile, health officials said Monday, cholera has killed 50 people in northwest Nigeria in the past week, in the latest outbreak of the disease which has claimed thousands of lives across the country since 2010.

Zamfara state where residents began drinking water directly from streams and untreated wells after a main water pipeline was forced to shut has also been struck.

“We have recorded an outbreak of cholera in the past one week in six local government areas of the state which has resulted in the death of 50 people while several others have been hospitalised,” Zamfara state health commissioner Kabiru Janyau told AFP.

Road construction around state capital Gusau forced officials to close a main pump leading to water shortages in several parts of the state, Janyau said.

“People have turned to streams and open wells for drinking water which led to the outbreak,” he said.

Cholera, a highly contagious intestinal infection, is transmitted by water soiled by human waste. The disease leads to diarrhoea, dehydration and death if untreated.

Outbreaks are most common during the rainy season, which roughly runs from April to October.