At least two
persons have been confirmed dead, while 25 other residents of Lagos State are
receiving treatment in hospitals following an outbreak of cholera in three
local government areas of the state
The Lagos
State Government at a press conference in Alausa on Tuesday said the cases came
like the typical diarrhoea and vomiting associated with cholera.
It added
that the outbreak was due to the heavy rainfall being experienced and the
aftermath of flooding in the state.
The
Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who was joined at the briefing by the
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, stated that the
outbreak had been traced to the Somolu, Oshodi-Isolo, and Surulere local
government areas.
According to Punch, He said,
“Twenty-seven cases have been listed by our epidemiology/disease surveillance
officers as of today, July 25, 2017. Two deaths were recorded from the 27
cases.”
Idris said
six cases were recorded in Somolu LGA, adding that one of the patients died.
He explained
that while four were managed at the Somolu General Hospital, one was managed at
a private hospital, while one patient died at home.
“In
Oshodi-Isolo LGA, two cases were recorded. One was managed at a private
hospital and he is alive, while one died at home. In Surulere LGA, 14 cases were reported and
managed at Randle General Hospital. No death was recorded,” the commissioner
said.
He stated
that two other cases were managed at the Mainland Hospital with no death
recorded, while three cases were managed at the Gbagada General Hospital.
“The main
suspected source of infection is the contamination of water sources with faecal
matter from faulty septic tanks and soakaway, following the heavy rainfall in
the state. Samples of well water have been collected and sent to the Lagos
State Drug Quality Control Laboratory. We are still expecting the results,”
Idris added.
The
commissioner asked people to use potable water, saying sanitation was critical
in reducing the impact of cholera and other water-borne diseases.
“The
clinical manifestations of cholera are nausea, profuse diarrhoea, vomiting (in
early stages of illness), fever, and leg cramp. Later presentations are
dehydration, shock or coma,” he added.
Idris said
the government had instituted measures to contain the outbreak.
He said,
“The medical directors of our general hospitals have been placed on alert and
fact sheets on cholera forwarded to both public and private hospitals. Our
community health workers are in the communities to prevent the spread of the
disease. Chlorination of water supply has been intensified, awareness campaign
is ongoing.”
The Lagos
State Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, urged
residents to treat their water sources to reduce their risk of contracting
cholera.
He said,
“Many wells and boreholes will be contaminated by now and they need to be
treated by chlorination. We also need to start washing our hands with soap and
water after using the toilet. In areas where access to water is a challenge,
please use sanitisers. We basically need to adopt the attitude we had towards
hygiene during the Ebola outbreak.”
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