Cholera Claims Six Lives In Ebonyi

Cholera outbreak has
claimed six lives in two local government  areas of Ebonyi with eight others hospitalised.
Confirming the outbreak in Abakaliki, the State Director of Public Health and  Disease Control, Dr Christian Achi, said the outbreak was recorded in Abakaliki and Ebonyi areas.
“The affected communities include Amachi in Abakaliki, and Edomia and Ikelegu in Ebonyi local government area.
“Four persons died in Amachi, while one each died in Edomia and Ikelegu, with eight persons  hospitalised and currently receiving treatment in health centres,” he said .•
Achi described the situation as unfortunate, adding that health officials in the state had been  mobilised to the affected communities to stabilise some of the victims in critical conditions.
“The outbreak can be attributed to lack of personal hygiene, consumption of contaminated water and lack of adequate toilet facilities in the affected areas.
“We are advising people to maintain personal and environmental hygiene to check such occurrences that are usually fatal.
“When the first case was recorded, we instructed that the victims be buried immediately without burial ceremonies, but the people did not obey the directive and it affected other people.
“The people might have exposed what they ate to flies which perched on the foods, making it easy for the disease to be transmitted to the victims,” he said.
According to him, most of the communities do not have toilet facilities as people defecate around their houses; which make it easier for diseases to be transmitted in the areas.
“The state government has sealed over 30 houses for not having toilet facilities, people should ensure that they wash their hands regularly with running water to avoid contracting diseases.
“They should also use health facilities provided for them by the government, when there are outbreaks of any epidemics in their localities, rather than resorting to self-medication,” he  advised.