The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cholera

  • Council clears roadside traders to prevent Cholera

    Council clears roadside traders to prevent Cholera

    To prevent more deaths from Cholera, the Isolo Local  Council Development Area (LCDA) has embarked on seizure of exposed foods by roadside vendors.

    Six persons died of Cholera in the area about 11 days ago.

    Last Friday, the council raided between Five-Star bus-stop and Iyana-Isolo under bridge with large concentration of traders. Food items, such as, bread, boiled rice, beans, soup, stew, snacks, eggs, fried yam, bean cake, homemade drinks among others were confiscated.

    The pots of soup of traders who were preparing food close to drainages were also seized.

    The council had earlier asked the traders to relocate following the Cholera outbreak.

    Its Sole Administrator, represented by Abdul Borishade said the council was determined to rid the area of unwholesome food items, stressing the need for residents to live healthy.

    Contrary to the traders’ claims that they were not served a notice, Borishade said some council officials visited the areas and warned them to relocate.

    He said: “The Sole Administrator has asked us to make enforcement in Isolo area. Our team has been out to sensitise the public about the cholera outbreak and with what you have seen, people are still doing what they are not supposed to do on the same spot. That is the reason we went out. The essence of the enforcement is to protect the lives of people.”

    A gala and sweet seller, Mrs Taiwo Adekunle, said she was not aware of the policy, claiming that she just  got to the market when the council officials seized her goods.

    She said: “It is the little I realise from these goods that I use to pay my children’s school fees. Please beg them on my behalf to return my goods. All what the council took away is worth N30,000. Where do I get money to start again?”

    A snacks seller, Shehu Abubakar, told The Nation that they were being punished unjustly, noting that he had been selling at the spot for the past one year without disturbance.

    A bread and beans seller near Lagos State Polytechnic (Isolo Campus) said she could not afford shop rental fee, hence resorted to roadside business.

  • Six die of Cholera after eating Abacha

    Six adults have been confirmed dead in Lagos after eating a local delicacy, popularly known as Abacha.

    The African Salad is a mixture of cassava, palm oil, garden egg and pepper, among others.

    The victims, according to Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris contracted the Ogawa strain of Vibrio Cholera after taking the meal.

    Idris said they were among 45 cases identified by his minsitry’s Epidemiology Unit. The incident, he said, occurred at some communities in Isolo Local Community Development Area (LCDA). The Abacha vendors have been arrested.

    The Commissioner said a team of epidemiologists was led to the source of water used in preparing the Abacha, following reports that the victims suffered from acute diarrhoea after the meal.

    According to him, samples of the Abacha and water from two wells were collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory for analysis.

    The report showed the presence of Vibrio Cholera, Salmonella species and E.coli in the Abacha and one of the well water samples, The Nation gathered.

    Idris said ano-rectal swabs were collected from 15 of the affected people and taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba, where seven of the samples yielded Vibro Cholera after continuous culture.

    He cautioned the public against eating Abacha that they did not prepare, adding that the risk of contracting cholera is increased by poor water and environmental sanitation, including open defecation.

    Idris said: “We have instituted measures towards quick containment and control of the outbreak. Our health workers, especially the medical officers, health educators, disease surveillance/notification officers and environmental health officers are in the community striving assiduously towards quick containment and control of spread of the disease. Chlorination of water supply has been intensified, awareness campaign is on-going and cases are being promptly diagnosed and appropriately managed in our hospitals.”

    Explaining how those affected were treated, the commissioner said 26 cases were managed at Isolo General and Lagos Mainland hospitals.

    He said: “Twenty two have been discharged, one died, while three are still on admission at Lagos Mainland Hospital. All the three cases that are still on admission are in stable condition. 17 of the cases were managed at private health facilities- Healing Cross Hospital, Isolo (four), Bola Hospital Isolo (five), West Care Hospital, Ejigbo (five) and New Line Hospital, Isolo (three). Three of the 17 cases died. The other 14 have been discharged.”

    Three vendors of contaminated Abacha, he said, had been identified at Cele Bus Stop.  The government, Idris added, has restricted the sale of the delicacy and distributed factsheets on cholera to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the 26 general hospitals in the state and medical officers in the 57 Councils for circulation to health workers.

    He said there is Intensive Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all the Local Government Areas (LGAs), especially Oshodi-Isolo and Amuwo Odofin, appealing to the public to report any case of diarrhoea and vomiting to the nearest health facility or call 08037170614, 08052817243 and 08173577579.

  • Cholera kills 45 in Zanzibar

    Cholera has killed 45 people in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar over the past two months, regional health officials said on Thursday.

    Director of disease prevention and control at the Health Ministry of the semi-autonomous archipelago, Eddy Dahoma, said over 3,000 people have been infected since the epidemic started in September.

    According to the government, the disease is believed to have come in from the Tanzanian mainland, where it has killed more than 300 people since August.

    Dahoma said that rains had contributed to the waterborne disease spreading across most of the archipelago.

    “The epidemic however is now losing ground in Zanzibar as well as the mainland.

    “The number of patients has been decreasing, as many people have been taking precautions after our awareness campaigns,’’ Dahoma said.

    Report says Zanzibar, which has 1.3 million residents, is a popular tourist destination.

    Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food and it causes diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death.

  • Cholera kills 76 persons in Ebonyi – Commissioner

    No fewer than 76 persons lost their lives in Ebonyi state to the dreaded Cholera disease outbreak that ravaged 38 communities in 11 local government areas for five months last year.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umuzuruike stated this Wednesday in Abakaliki.

    He said that apart from the 76 deaths from Cholera, 14 other patients died of Lassa fever.

    The Commissioner stated that there is no more case of Cholera outbreak in the State even throughout the dry season and assured that the ministry would continue to sustain the surveillance effort to avert its recurrences.

    He said: “upon assumption office, I was welcomed with the outbreak of cholera which actually started in February, 2015 and had claimed many lives before my assumption of office, we quickly mobilized our Surveillance and Response Team to all the places discovered to have been ravaged by the disease.

    “With the help and logistics support of the State Governor, Chief David Umahi, we were able to control the five months old epidemic within 2 weeks. Prior to our intervention, the deadly disease killed over 76 people, affected 38 communities and 11 out of 13 LGAs of Ebonyi state and used to recur on regular basis especially during the dry seasons.”

    The Commissioner also dismissed rumors of another outbreak of guinea worm in the state.

    According to him, the ministry quickly mobilized its response and surveillance teams to all those sites that the rumors emanated from and after conducting tests none of those cases were confirmed to be guinea worm.

    “We also collected samples from the ponds and Cyclops isolated, preserved and sent for DNA analysis, so there is no confirmed case of guinea worm anywhere in Ebonyi State.”

    Dr. Umezuruike said that the virology center approved for construction by the State Governor, Chief David Umahi is at 95% completion while all the equipments needed for the center has been paid for and would arrive the state this week.

    “As I address you, the Virology Center is almost completed and all equipment for the take off of the center has been procured. The prevalence rate has drastically reduced as they are minimal cases and we promise Ebonyi people that the government would continue to put in professional competence to ensure that it is totally eradicated”.

    The Commissioner also stated that the state Governor graciously approved and gave the ministry the mandate to complete and upgrade the renovation and reconstruction of the 13 General Hospitals starting with 6, 2 per senatorial zone not minding the drastic reduction in the monthly Federal allocation to the state.

    He said that the ministry has also been mandated to upgrade 171 primary Health Centers starting with 65, 5 per LGA and to also ensure the construction of the State Drug Distribution Center which he said would soon kick-off immediately some of the lacuna created by contract issue are cleared.

    According to Dr. Umezuruike, the Governor has also approved the procurement of Cerumo Cell Harvester machine worth N10 million and which was donated to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki for the separation of blood into different components.

     

  • Cholera kills over 30 in Jigawa

    •Govt: it’s not true  

    •Disease looms in Kano

    Cholera and a strange fever at Hara and Kafijiba villages in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State have killed over 30 people. The majority of the victims were children below 15.

    Reports said that the epidemic started about four weeks ago, but worsened last week when deaths were rampant in the villages and Fulani settlements.

    The Nation learnt that it was caused by contamination of the sources of drinking water in the two villages, following floods.

    Contacted on the phone, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Magaji Uba Jahun, denied any outbreak.

    He said: “As far as the ministry is concerned, there is no cholera in the state. We have a surveillance team. Its duty is to report such cases and it has not done so.”

    A director in the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the outbreak.

    He said: “Yes, there was a report of an epidemic in the villages about four weeks ago. Drugs were sent to the areas.”

    Cholera is imminent in Kano city, following the selling of polluted water by vendors called mai ruwa.

    Investigation by The Nation showed that the water was sourced from broken underground pipes.

    Some of the water vendors, who preferred anonymity, told our reporter that the water was from the Water Board.

    This reporter contacted an official of the Water Board. The official defended the Water Board, saying the replacement of its rusty pipes was in progress, adding that some water vendors capitalised on the situation to fetch water from broken pipes and sell to residents.

    According to him, once the repair was completed, the problem would be solved.

    He said the water supplied to the public was treated with chlorine, which killed germs.

    Following the sale of polluted water, most residents in Sabon Gari now opt for borehole water   considered safe for drinking.

  • Six dead, 100 hospitalised in Delta cholera breakout

    Six dead, 100 hospitalised in Delta cholera breakout

    Six residents of Aladja in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have died of cholera.

    About 100 others were said to have been hospitalised yesterday.

    Our reporter learnt that there had been a cholera outbreak since  last week.

    Sources said the situation worsened in the last few days with a high death toll.

    The situation was said to have worsened because the residents attributed it to the people’s alleged failure to seek treatment. The affected persons were reportedly diagnosed with cholera when their condition deteriorated.

    Most of those hospitalised were said to be in Udu Local Government Area; those with more severe cases were said to be receiving treatment at the Central Hospital in Warri.

    Although the cause of the outbreak could not be ascertained last night, our reporter learnt that the contaminated source of water might have been responsible.

    Udu Local Government Chairman Solomon Kpomah confirmed the incident.

    He said the council had deployed a team of medical personnel to curtail further spread to other communities.

    According to him, the state government sent its medical team to test and treat those affected.

    Kpomah said: “We’ll continue to carry out a sensitisation campaign. There is need for a holistic approach by all parties to curtail the disease.”

    The council chief urged the residents to imbibe good hygiene and dispose off their wastes properly.

    He added: “They should also be cautious of the water they drink and the food they eat.”

  • Cholera kills eight in Ebonyi communities

    Night persons have died in a fresh cholera outbreak in Ebonyi State.

    Three of the deaths were recorded in Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Izzi Local Government Area.

    Seventeen other persons have been hospitalised in the community.

    Five deaths were confirmed by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Christian Achi, at Ikwo  in Ikwo Local Government Area.

    The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Francis Onwe, and other officials of the Ministry of Health have visited the affected areas and distributed drugs to residents.

    A resident of Ndiogbu Ndieze village, whose younger brother was among the dead, Chief Austin Igwe Edeze, said people who attended the funeral of a casualty, started vomiting and defecating uncontrollably on their return.

    He said: “Nobody suspected that cholera was responsible for the frequent vomiting and defecation.

    “Before we realised that it was cholera, he was down, vomiting and stooling. So, we took him to the hospital and he died early in the morning.

    “We raised the alarm to the Ministry of Health and the officials advised that we should quickly bury him to avoid the disease spreading. We obeyed and buried him immediately.

    “The Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry sent a team to us for enlightenment on the prevention of the disease. It donated some drugs, after the lecture.”

    Dr. Onwe said Chief Edeze contacted health officials when his younger brother died from the epidemic.

  • Cholera outbreak kill 8 in Ebonyi

    Eight persons have died as a result of fresh cholera outbreak in Ebonyi State.

    Three of the deaths were recorded in Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.

    Seventeen persons in the community were also hospitalized.

    Five deaths were confirmed by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the state, Dr. Christian Achi in Ikwo community, Ikwo local government area of the state as a result of fresh outbreak of the disease in the area.

    The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Francis Onwe and other officials of the state Ministry of Health were forced to visit the affected areas following the outbreak and distributed drugs.

    A stakeholder of Ndiogbu Ndieze village, Chief Austin Igwe Edeze whose younger brother was among those that died following the outbreak said people who attended burial of a resident of the area came back and started vomiting and defecating uncontrollably.

    He said:‘’Nobody suspected that cholera was responsible for the frequent vomiting and defecation by the people that attended the burial ceremony.

    ‘’ So before we could notice it is cholera, was down; vomiting and stooling and we took him to the hospital and he died early in the morning.

    ‘’We raised alarm to the Ministry of Health and the officials advised that we should quickly bury him to avoid the disease spreading to other people around which we obeyed and bury him immediately.

    ‘’The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry sent a team who visited us for enlightenment on the prevention of the disease and donated some drugs after the lecture’’ he added.

    The state Epidemiologist Dr. Francis Onwe said the state health officials were contacted by Chief Austin Igwe Edeze whose younger brother was among those that died as a result of the epidemic.

    He advised the residents to ensure personal and environmental hygiene to avoid contracting the disease.

    Onwe further advised them to ensure they bury any victim immediately such person dies to avoid spreading the epidemic.

    He also warned them to desist from drinking stream and contaminated water which he explained are sources of contracting the disease..

  • Cholera outbreak kills 18 in South Sudan

    Cholera outbreak kills 18 in South Sudan

    South Sudan Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that no fewer than 18 people have died of Cholera in the country’s Central Equatoria State.

    South Sudanese Health Minister, Riek Gai Kok, said that over 171 cholera cases have been confirmed, declaring an outbreak of the highly contagious infection.

    The first cholera case was reported at a UN Protection of Civilians (POC) base in early June, he said.

    Cholera treatment centers have been established at Juba Hospital and the International Medical Corps clinic at the POC to manage suspected and confirmed cholera cases, he pointed out.

    The disease outbreak adds to the suffering of the South Sudanese people who are already facing tough humanitarian conditions caused by the escalating violence in the newly-established state.

    South Sudan plunged into violence in December 2013 when fighting erupted between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and defectors led by his former deputy Riek Machar.

    The conflict soon turned into an all-out war with the violence taking on an ethnic dimension that pitted the president’s Dinka tribe against Machar’s Nuer ethnic group.

    The clashes have left thousands of South Sudanese dead and forced around 1.9 million people to flee their homes.

  • Cholera outbreak claim 20 lives in Ebonyi

    No fewer than twenty persons have died following the recent cholera outbreak in Ebonyi state.

    The state Director of Public Health and Disease control, Dr. Chris Achi stated this in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    He said the deaths were recorded across seven Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State where the outbreak occurred.

    These include: Abakaliki, Izzi, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, Ishielu, Ezza North and Ohaozara Local Government Areas.

    According to him, ten undergraduates of the Ebonyi State University were affected by the disease out of which one died.

    “Fifteen students of Girls’ High School, Azuiyiokwu were also affected and were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki for medical attention without casualty recorded.

    “The epidemic was recorded in 12 Apostle College Sharon and Annunciation schools, St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Kpirikpiri  Abakaliki,” he added.

    Achi, a former Commissioner for Health in the state explained that those who died resorted to self medication and died due to renal breakdown before being taken to hospitals for medical treatment.

    He discouraged people from defecating indiscriminately around their vicinities and drinking contaminated water and called on those seeking for house as tenants to ensure they live in houses that have toilet facilities.

    Achi further enjoined the people to ensure personal hygiene and desist from eating foods they are not sure of where it was prepared to avoid contracting the disease.