Cholera outbreak kills 10 people in Enugu state
Maureen Edozie in Enugu
The Enugu State Government has confirmed the death of 10 people following a cholera outbreak in the state, adding that the Ministry of Health and its partners had begun efforts to address and contain the outbreak.
Penpushing reports that Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Egwuonwu Samuel disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Guild of Medical Directors in Enugu on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Emmanuel Obi
The Director in the letter said the ministry is officially notifying the public about a cholera outbreak in the state, prompting swift action to prevent further spread of the disease, disclosing alarming reports of several cholera cases, with an estimated 10 fatalities thus far.
“Health facilities and medical personnel are advised to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients presenting with symptoms such as acute diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting’, the Director stated.
“We are calling for urgent implementation of heightened Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures across medical establishments to curb the spread of the disease. Medical practitioners are urged to step up their precautionary measures and report any suspected cases promptly,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that Egwuonwu explained that the outbreak raises significant public health concerns pointing out that cholera is highly infectious and often caused by contaminated water or food, stressing that the Ministry’s swift response is seen as a critical step in containing the outbreak and protecting the population from further harm.
The Director, however, appealed to the public to adhere strictly to hygienic practices, such as boiling water before drinking, washing hands frequently, and avoiding the consumption of poorly handled food, adding that the state government was expected to release further guidelines and updates as the situation unfolded, while efforts to mitigate the outbreak continued in collaboration with local and international health partners.
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