Outbreak: Again, Cholera  kills 53 residents in Borno

Outbreak: Again, Cholera  kills 53 residents in Borno

By: Bodunrin Kayode

About 53 residents have died in Borno state due to an out break of cholera which has affected the  state since this year’s annual flooding started.

As a result of this out break at least I million residents especially resident Internally displaced people IDPs are at risk of dying if they continue to drink contaminated water simply because it looks clean to the eyes.

Confirming the mortality to health partners in the state today, Director of public health, Dr Goni Abba asked them to join the state team to quickly reverse the deaths across those affected council areas.

A breakdown of the death profile as at yesterday showed that  a total of 47 new cases with 3 death reported including backlog of cases came from Jere council area.

“Upsurge cases  from  Jere include 37 cases with 3 death, Bayo reported 3 cases with no death, Biu recorded 3 cases with no death, Dikwa reported 3 cases no death, Bama 1 case no death, Kwaya Kusar submitted none, MMC and Mafa no update for today. ” He said.

Dr Goni  said that the Cumulative cases reported so far is 768 cases with 47 associated deaths.

On response to the scourge today by State rapid response team led by himself and some partners, he said that the state public health team visited hot spots like  Shokari rehabilitation centre, Muna garage IDP camp to  conduct assessment of toilet facilities, sources of water and general personal and environmental hygiene of the areas.

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They also conducted sensitisation of the returnees, communities affected and community leaders on the dangers of open defecation and poor personal and environmental hygiene which can contribute to the spread of Cholera.

The World Health Organization (WHO ) cholera focal person he noted has also provided  drugs and supplies at the Shokari rehabilitation centre health facility to cushion the effect of the cholera.

Meanwhile, active case searches and case findings were conducted and 23 Cholera cases were referred to Ngarnam in Bolori II.

Dr Goni assured that the state response team and partners will intensify Surveillance, in conjunction with the risk communication and WASH activities in these sensitive areas of Shokari rehabilitation  centre, Muna garage IDP camp,  custom house IDP camp and other hotspots in Jere council area.

Cholera has become an annual scourge in the state Capital Maiduguri since residents were displaced by insurgency and forced to stay in IDP camps over ten years ago.

Even with the closure of the camps by Governor Babagana Zulum, the habit of open defecation which is a long way from leaving the residents badly affects the source of water most residents use to take their bath, abolution for praying or cooking.

The scourge has increased also because of flooding which has affected most of the capital and council areas around it.

Outbreak: Again, Cholera  kills 53 residents in Borno