Prevent cholera outbreak, Lagos warns residents

[Mirror]

Lagos State Government has called on the public to maintain adequate personal and environmental hygiene at all times in order to prevent an outbreak of cholera epidemic.

The warning came on the heels of reported outbreak of cholera in parts of the country.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who made the call in Lagos over the weekend, noted that the need to ensure high standard of hygiene at all times could not be overemphasised.

According to him, cholera is acquired through the ingestion of an infective dose of contaminated food or water and can be transmitted through many mechanisms like direct or indirect contamination of water or food by faeces of infected individuals.

Urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case, dead or alive, to the nearest health facility and the Directorate of Disease Control in the Ministry of Health, Idris explained that cholera is an acute contagious bacterial disease that is characterised by severe form of sudden onset of profuse painless watery stools, nausea and profuse vomiting.

He said: "Cholera should be suspected in any person who develops diarrhoea with or without vomiting, weakness, restlessness, irritability, dry mucous membrane, low blood pressure, leg cramps, excessive loss of body fluids (dehydration) or dies from frequent stooling, hence, adequate measures should be taken in order to reduce the risk of contracting the disease."

The commissioner listed measures to be taken to include washing of hands with soaps and water frequently and thoroughly; boiling of water before drinking if the source of the water is in doubt; washing of fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating; cooking of food thoroughly before eating; disposing of waste material properly and keeping of water containers clean.

Idris pointed out that in the case of suspected cholera, the public should prepare oral rehydration solution (10 level teaspoonfuls of sugar and one level teaspoonful of salt in two 35cl bottles), "give the suspect a lot of fluids to drink; keep giving the suspect food as soon as it can be tolerated; and thereafter visit the nearest hospital whether the condition of the suspect improves or not".

Source: Prevent cholera outbreak, Lagos warns residents