Cholera kills seven more people in Enugu

Seven more people have died of cholera in Enugu state.

Ikechukwu Obi, Enugu commissioner of health, had in a statement on Friday said seven people died of cholera around New Artisan market in the state.

Boniface Okoro, the director of public health and disease control, ministry of health, on Monday, said seven more people have died of the infection in the area with 19 persons identified with symptoms.

“Seven persons died initially on Saturday, but as of Monday, seven more deaths were confirmed, raising the fatality to 14,” he said.

He said many of the patients were taken to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, while others were taken to a private hospital in the city.

He said upon receiving reports of the deaths, the ministry’s rapid response team carried out an immediate investigation and “it was observed that the patients presented with sudden onset of passage of loose stool and vomiting”.

The director said the outbreak is due to poor hygiene, particularly, improper disposal of domestic and human waste, and high consumption of untreated water in the area.

Okoro said the state government has launched an aggressive sensitisation campaign for residents to take precautionary steps towards preventing further spread.

He also said some patients have recovered and have been discharged from hospital, but added that a fresh case of the infection was reported on Monday morning, indicating the possibility of a further spread if residents do not take precautions.

He, however, said no other part of the state has been affected by the infection, and pledged the commitment of the state to curb the infection before spreads to other communities.

The cholera outbreak has been confirmed in several states, including the federal capital territory (FCT), Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kano, Niger, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Gombe, Bayelsa and Kebbi.