Health: Cholera kills 23 in Sokoto

Health: Cholera kills 23 in Sokoto.

Twenty-three (23) people have so far died from the Cholera outbreak while 265 were infected with gastroenteritis across 13 local government areas of Sokoto state, in northwest Nigeria.

Commissioner for health, Dr. Ali Inname has confirmed.

He gave the names of the local government areas as – Rabah, Wurno, Dange Shuni, Kebbe, Gwadabawa, Tangaza, Isa, Bodinga, Wamakko, Silame, Illela, Sabon Birni and Yabo, adding that Gwadawaba was the worst hit.

The commissioner, said “it is important for the public to know that the disease is highly contagious and can easily be transmitted from person to person through casual contacts.

“Others are drinking contaminated foods or water, contaminated cloths, surfaces, beds, bedsheets, vomit and faeces.”

According to him, the investigation revealed that the disease escalated because of the rainy season and sources of drinking water, including open wells, was contaminated, while open defecation and other poor sanitary challenges had contributed.

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He said that two teams were established on case management comprising medical doctors that would go round for spot assessment and treatment in affected areas.

The Commissioner added that a team of environmental health officers had also been raised to go round for sensitization on preventive measures toward containing the situation.

He said that a rapid response team was reactivated across the state, while drugs and consumables’ provisions were repositioned.

He advised people to boil their drinking water, cover open wells against flooding of rainwater, report any case to the nearby health centres and avoid home treatments.