A cholera outbreak in Gashua, Yobe
State, has claimed 13 lives out of 160 cases reported in the last six
days, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
State, has claimed 13 lives out of 160 cases reported in the last six
days, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
A source at the Gashua General Hospital
told NAN that five deaths were initially recorded while eight lives were
later lost to the disease.
told NAN that five deaths were initially recorded while eight lives were
later lost to the disease.
The source said that the victims were
brought in from Sabon Gari, Katuzu, Zango, Lawan Musa and Sarkin
Hausawa, which were among the areas worst affected by the outbreak.
brought in from Sabon Gari, Katuzu, Zango, Lawan Musa and Sarkin
Hausawa, which were among the areas worst affected by the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the state government has despatched a Rapid Response Team to contain the outbreak and spread of the disease.
The General Manager, Yobe Rural Water
Supply and Sanitation Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, confirmed that the
response team had embarked on chlorinating water reservoirs and
disinfecting toilet facilities in the area.
Supply and Sanitation Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, confirmed that the
response team had embarked on chlorinating water reservoirs and
disinfecting toilet facilities in the area.
He said aqua tablets were also
distributed to households while promotion of personal hygiene had been
intensified to curtail the spread of the disease.
distributed to households while promotion of personal hygiene had been
intensified to curtail the spread of the disease.
Bukar attributed the outbreak to poor
hygiene, adding “we collected water samples from various sources, and
using the bacteriological test kit, we discovered some private boreholes
with contaminated water.”
hygiene, adding “we collected water samples from various sources, and
using the bacteriological test kit, we discovered some private boreholes
with contaminated water.”
He said shallow boreholes managed by private individuals were prone to contamination.
“There is the need to pass the water law
in good time to check the excesses of some private borehole operators
who abuse due process and put the lives of the people at risk,” the
general manager said.
in good time to check the excesses of some private borehole operators
who abuse due process and put the lives of the people at risk,” the
general manager said.
According to Bukar, water samples from
five boreholes in Gashua which tested positive had been shut down while
more samples had been taken for advance laboratory analysis.
five boreholes in Gashua which tested positive had been shut down while
more samples had been taken for advance laboratory analysis.
He said communities in neighbouring
Karasuwa and Yusufari Local Government Areas had been disinfected and
provided with aqua tablets to check possible spread.
Karasuwa and Yusufari Local Government Areas had been disinfected and
provided with aqua tablets to check possible spread.
Similarly, the Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmad
Lawan, has provided fluids and drugs to the Gashua General Hospital for
the treatment of victims.
Lawan, has provided fluids and drugs to the Gashua General Hospital for
the treatment of victims.
Alhaji Habu Kaku, aide to the leader of
the Senate, told NAN that the donation of the drugs and fluids was to
complement government efforts in the treatment of the victims.
the Senate, told NAN that the donation of the drugs and fluids was to
complement government efforts in the treatment of the victims.
“This is a first phase intervention
to arrest the unexpected outbreak and to compliment the efforts of the
state government in curtailing the disease,” Kaku said.
to arrest the unexpected outbreak and to compliment the efforts of the
state government in curtailing the disease,” Kaku said.
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