Cholera Outbreak in Ebonyi kills six, eight hospitalized

 

Not less than six residents have been confirmed dead and eight others hospitalized following a suspected Cholera outbreak in three communities of Ebonyi State.

The communities affected in the state include Edomia, Amachi and Ikelegu.

Christian Achi, who is the State Director of Public Health and Disesase Control,  confirmed the incident to Journalists on Wednesday.

He said, while four residents died in Amachi, Abakaliki Local Government, two residents died in Edomia and Ikelegu, Ebonyi Local Government Area.

Describing the situation as alarming, Mr. Achi revealed that eight other residents were hospitalized and are presently receiving treatment in nearby health centres.

Mr. Achi further said government health officials had gone into the affected communities and stabilized some of the affected victims who are in critical condition. He attributed the recent outbreak to inadequate personal hygiene among victims, toilet facilities and portable water.

“We are sensitizing people to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. When the first case was recorded, we directed that the person should be buried immediately without burial ceremonies but the people disobeyed the directive and this in-turn affected other victims. Some residents expose whatever they eat to flies and these flies will perch on them and transmit diseases such as this to them,” Mr. Achi said.

He reiterated that most of the residents don't have toilet facilities and defecate near their houses which makes it easier for diseases to be transmitted to them.

He instructed the sealing of over 30 houses for lack of toilet facilities.

The director also sensitized the people to ensure regular hand-washing with running water to avoid contracting diseases.
He further advised them to make use of health facilities provided for them by government whenever there is an outbreak of any epidemic in their localities rather than resort to self medication or delay in accessing the facilities, which he noted caused the spread of the disease.