Cross River deploys response team to community hit by cholera outbreak

The Cross River state government says it has deployed health personnel and response materials to Ekureku community, in Abi LGA, over a cholera outbreak.

Janet Ekpeyong, the director-general, Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said this in an interview with NAN on Sunday.

TheCable had reported how over 20 persons died following a suspected cholera outbreak in 10 villages in the community.

Ekpeyong, who described the incident as “unfortunate”, said the state government had taken proactive measures to prevent the further spread of the disease.

She said the state has deployed a response team including representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nigerian Red Cross and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.

“The combined team have all intervened accordingly and helped to save lives and prevent further spread of the disease,” she said.

“The government finds this incident quite unfortunate and sympathises with affected families.

“Because of the fast transmission rate of cholera, we recorded many deaths, with many others hospitalised in various government-owned facilities and are responding to treatment.

“We are applying every possible means to halt transmission as we have gone across the community sensitising the people on the possible ways of managing the disease.

“We have as well been speaking to community leaders to support the government by lending their voices to ensure their communities adhere to hygiene protocols to end cholera and other related illnesses.”

She said fumigation and treatment of the water sources in the community were ongoing, while samples have been sent for testing and confirmation of the cause of the outbreak.