Hygiene Alert as Cholera Outbreak in Nigeria Grows

Health officials have warned people of regimented hygiene regarding food and water, because of cholera-related deaths and sicknesses in recent days in Lagos, Zamfara and Plateau States. The warnings were specific, as health centres attended to more people, and cholera claimed lives. The Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said Cholera “is an acute contagious bacterial disease characterised by severe form of sudden onset of profuse painless watery stools, nausea and profuse vomiting.” He said, “Although, many of the cases have been treated and discharged in several health facilities, three have been confirmed dead. Most of the suspected cases are from Ajeromi, Apapa, Lagos Island, Oshodi Isolo and Surulere Local Government Areas.” “Our surveillance and investigations had revealed that the suspected cases were contracted from food sources such as the African food salad – Abacha, well water sources, especially in areas like Ikate community, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area and Badia area of Apapa Local Government Area, and infected foods from food sellers, and other unhygienic habits.” “People should be vigilant and report any suspected case, dead or alive, to the nearest health facility and the directorate of disease control in the state.” In Zamfara, the Medical Director of its State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Labaran Anka, said 536 others have also been infected by the disease because of contaminated water in the affected areas, and about 420 have been treated and discharged. Plateau State Government also said about 96 persons have been infected and hospitalised over cholera in Qua’npan Local Government Area, and that 9 people have died. Cholera is a bacterial infection of the small intestine, with watery diarrhoea and vomiting as its main symptoms. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the faeces of an infected person, including one with no apparent symptoms. Severe cholera, requiring hospitalization, results from the accumulation of about a million bacterial cells within the body. These cells can be picked up from unsafe drinking water or from eating sea food that have ingested cholera-carrying organisms.  

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This article was first published on 25th October 2013

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