Delta State has recorded 138 cases of Cholera infection currently ravaging the country in Warri south west local government area of the State.
The State Commissioner for Health,
Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this on Thursday July 30, 2024 while briefing newsmen on what the state government was doing to curb the spread of the disease in the State.
Dr Onojaeme, disclosed that the first outbreak was in mid February at Warri south west with seven deaths, majorly children before the second and third outbreaks, thereby bringing the number of local government areas with cases of outbreaks to eight.
He further said that Cholera is a bacteria infection spread by the consumption of infected water and food; and results in watery stool, dehydration and electrolyte.
Hear him: “the State have recorded about 138 cases in Warri south west local government area, which is the local government it started.
“This third outbreak, we had 11 suspected cases in Bomadi and one in Oshimili south .
“We have been able to curtail the disease in Delta State. The disease surveillance officers across the State have been able to do a lot of advocacy to our people; educate them about the cause of the disease”.
The Health Commissioner revealed that the disease is majorly caused by poor sanitary environment, “we have told them about simple hand washing, we have educated them about not taking unclean water, taking portable water, the ministry of health provided tablets to purify some of these water”.
He noted that in Warri south west local government area where this ailment emanated from, “we had only 20 suspected cases and majority of the cases we noticed, we have treated and is basically under control”, he assured.
He noted that aside the poor sanitary environment, low hydrochloric acid produced by some individuals, “reduced stomach acid; the stomach produces hydrochloric acid.
“Some people have low amount of this acid in their stomach, it is actually a risk factor to having the Cholera. It has incubation period of 12 days “.
He revealed further that within the 12 days, a carrier who isn’t showing the symptom yet, could spread the disease through feces and urine to others “staying with someone that has contaminated the disease is a high risk factor”.
According to him, the disease is common among villages that are spread along the water bank.
Eight local government areas of high risk were identified to include Warri south west, Warri south, Warri north, Bomadi, Burutu, Ughelli north, Ughelli south and Patani.
He however disclosed that the ministry has been able to curb the disease in three councils, stressing that the ministry’s disease surveillance officers have the necessary commodities for diagnosis.
He also noted that the ministry’s epidemiology unit was doing close monitoring of the patients “and is fully under control”.
Earlier his counterpart in the ministry of Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, noted that it became imperative for the health Commissioner in collaboration with his ministry to address journalists following the rising calls from reporters to have update.
