Cholera outbreak in Nigeria: At least 250 dead as number of infected rises

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Post created on 11:16 am

 

….146 dies in Kebbi

….Jos records 28 deaths

 

At least, 146 people have died in Kebbi State, according to a health official, as the cholera outbreak in Nigeria spreads into the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the cholera outbreak is spreading in Nigeria with states in the north-west region recording high casualties.

Katsina State had recorded 75 deaths as of Tuesday, while Zamfara had reported 30, Sokoto 23 and Kano 119 deaths.

In a phone interview Wednesday morning, Aminu Bunza, the executive secretary of Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Kebbi, confirmed the figure for the state.

He said the outbreak was first recorded in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi State.

Mr Bunza said 2,028 persons had been infected by the disease as of Wednesday.

“The outbreak was first recorded in Dirin daji community of Sakaba and it has now spread to 20 local government areas of the state. The affected people spread across the local government areas.”

The hospital boss said the state government was taking steps to stem the spread of the disease.

“The state government has provided equipment and drugs to all the local government areas and trained health personnel to ensure the issue is being tackled even in the areas where the outbreak has not been recorded.”

Mr Bunza, however, called on the people of the state to ensure personal and environmental hygiene and to drink clean water only.

He also called on health personnel to avoid rendering home services to suspected cases, urging people to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility.

28 Dies in Jos

Meanwhile, No fewer than 28 person have now died from cholera outbreak in Plateau state.

This was indicated by the epidemiology data of cholera outbreak in the state shared by Philip Dasun, chairman, house committee on health, during a plenary session presided over by Ayuba Abok, the speaker of the state house of assembly on Wednesday.

The data indicated that the state had recorded a total of 1,415 infections since the outbreak began and showed that the infection had spread to all the local government areas except Mikang LGA, which recorded no infection.

Other LGAs affected include Bokkos, 58; Barkin Ladi, nine; Riyom, 14; Jos East, 20; Wase, 26; Langtang North, 23; Kanam, 41; Qua-anpan, two; Shendam, 30; Mangu, one; Langtang South, two; Kanke, nine; and Pankshin, seven.

The data also showed that the 28 deaths in the state were recorded in eight LGAs; Jos North, five; Jos South, six; Bassa, seven; Bokkos, three; Shendam, one; Kanam, three; Pankshin, one, and Wase, one.

In a motion, the house committee chairman expressed concern over the situation and called on the executive arm of government to direct the ministry of health to curb the spread of the infection in the state.

Jos north topped the list of LGAs affected with 599 cases, followed by Jos south with 423, and Bassa with 151.