- FG investigates outbreak in Plateau
The Deputy Director of Health in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Alhaji Bala Oroji, said yesterday that five persons died of cholera at Barkeji village in the area. Oroji stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Tambuwal. He said all the deceased persons were aged between 27 and 30 years. Oroji said three persons, one woman and two men died on October 14 out of nine infected. "Similarly, two other people died on October 19." He said 11 infected persons were hospitalised at the Barkeji community dispensary on Sunday.
According to him, four of the affected persons were discharged yesterday, while the remaining seven on admission at the health centre are still receiving treatment. He said adequate drugs and medicaments had been supplied to the dispensary by the local government. "We thank God that the situation is under control and we are even expecting to discharge the remaining infected persons either today or tomorrow,'' he added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health is to begin investigations into the suspected outbreak cholera at Namu village in Qua'pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. Chief Consultant Epidemiologist in the ministry, Dr Akin Oyemakinde, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the investigation would determine the type of intervention to be deployed to the community.
Oyemakinde said: "The ministry is already aware of the outbreak of cholera in Plateau State and has sent some team of experts to carry out proper investigations. "After the investigation, we will have a comprehensive detail of the situation and the necessary interventions deployed to the areas.'' He said the ministry was on top of the situation and would ensure that it curtailed the spread of the disease.
It will be recalled that an epidemiologist, Dr Raymond Yuryit, confirmed the death of eight people with 61 others hospitalised since the outbreak of the epidemic in Plateau State. Yuryit said those hospitalised had been diagnosed with the disease and admitted in various health centres. He attributed the outbreak to overcrowding, dirty environment and consumption of unhygienic food and water.
Source: Cholera kills five in Sokoto as FG probes outbreak in Plateau (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/cholera-kills-five-in-sokoto-as-fg-probes-outbreak-in-plateau/)