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RSG Confirms Nine Deaths From Cholera Outbreak
The Rivers State Government has confirmed nine deaths in the recent cholera outbreak in parts of the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, disclosed this at a media briefing in her office in Port Harcourt.
She said three of the cases occurred in Isiodum community in Andoni Local Government Area of the State.
She disclosed that as at January 13, 41 cases of cholera outbreak were reported in Andoni and Akuku Toru local government areas.
“As at 13th of January 2025, we have recorded a total of 41 suspected cases from two local government areas in the state.
“These local government areas are Andoni and Akuku Toru. We have also recorded nine associated deaths out of which three were from Andoni,” she said.
Dr Oreh said the symptoms of the disease reported from Isiodum are in keeping with the surveillance case definition of cholera.
According to her, Rivers State is known for recurrent outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea and cholera, especially during the dry season, stressing that these diseases posed a significant public health challenge due to its high morbidly and mortality rate.
She, however, said the Ministry has activated its emergency response teams across the state to contain its spread.
Oreh said, “The deaths were reported and brought to our attention necessitated the swift response from the Directorate of Public Health and Disease Control.
“On 11th of January, 2025, the attention of the Rivers State Public Emergency Operation Centre of the Rivers State Ministry of Health was drawn to a signal on three deaths within 48 hours at Isiodum community of Andoni, the state rapid response teams led by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control investigated and commenced action to contain an outbreak.”
The commissioner further said the ministry in collaboration with the Local Government Area Authority of Andoni also activated emergency response measures to contain the spread.
Oreh listed some of the measures to include strengthening surveillance, enhancing the case definition protection and reporting across health facilities and communities across Andoni.
She also said trained personnel have been deployed to affected communities across the State for case management and containment, while oral rehydration salt, intravenous fluid and essential medicines have been provided to communities across the state.
The commissioner stressed the need for people to maintain high level of personal hygiene such as regular washing of hands with soap and clean water especially before eating and after using the toilets and boiling of water before drinking.
She said the Ministry is collaborating with communities to sensitize the people to put an end to open defecation, stressing that the ministry is also working with other ministries to provide alternatives to the practice of open defecation by communities in the State.
John Bibor