23 die of cholera in Sokoto state

Twenty-three persons have died of cholera following the outbreak of the disease in thirteen of the twenty-three local government areas of Sokoto State, North West of Nigeria

Penpushing reports that Commissioner for Health, Ali Inname confirmed this ugly development  while briefing journalists, noting that the infection has spread to 13 of the state’s 23 local government areas.

The commissioner blamed the development on poor hygiene, pointing out that open defecation and other poor sanitary practices by the residents have been worsened by the rains that have begun to fall in the state.

Penpushing further reports that, the government earlier in March was forced to shut down Government Girls College, Mabera, following a similar outbreak, a disease which is an acute diarrhea infection.

The disease described as a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development, is usually caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, and has continued to spread through many states in the country.

.Penpushing reports that, the commissioner, said a total of 265 people have been identified to have been infected with the disease across the 13 local government areas, and listed them as include:  Dange Shuni, Kebbe, Illela, Gwadabawa, Tangaza, Isa, Bodinga, Wamakko, Wurno, Silame, Sabon Birni, Rabah and Yabo.

The Commissioner, however, sensitize the public about the disease, explaining that  it was important for the people to know how the disease is spread and why they should keep good hygiene

“It is important for the public to know that the disease is highly contagious, meaning that it can be easily transmitted from person to person through casual contacts. Others are by drinking contaminated foods or water, using contaminated clothes, surfaces, beds, bedsheets, vomit and faeces”,he said

Penpushing further reports that, the Health Commissioner stated that  open defecation and other poor sanitary challenges have also contributed to the spread of the disease,adding that  two teams of experts have been constituted for the purpose of case management and contact tracing.

The commissioner pointed out that  one of the teams comprises medical Doctors who are expected to go round for assessment of infected spots and treatment in the affected areas, stressing  that a team of environmental health officers have also been directed to begin sensitisation in communities, especially on preventive measures toward containing the situation.

Penpushing also reports that, he said a rapid response team was reactivated across the state, while drugs and provisions have been distributed, and equally advised residents to boil their drinking water, cover open wells, and avoid self-treatments but to report any case to nearby health centres, while in same vein appealed to residents to restrict visitations to infection-prone areas

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