Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead and 16 hospitalised following the outbreak of cholera in Abia State.
The deadly disease was reported at Ohuhu Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state.
According to a community source, the outbreak was as a result of the alleged contamination of a local river which is the community’s only source of water.
The source said that one of the casualties died in the community health center where 16 others are currently receiving treatment.
The source which said officials of World Health Organization, WHO, had visited the community and donated some drugs called on Government for urgent intervention.
Ohuhu Community is the home town of the late Premier of the former Eastern Region, Dr Michael Okpara.
Findings by Ikengaonline revealed that the topography of the community makes it hard and near impossible to get potable bore hole water in the area as previous attempts by both the federal and state governments were unsuccessful.
The community source which did not want to be disclosed appealed to the Abia State Government to revive the greater Okpara water scheme which provided the people with water in the 1970s and 1980s.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Osuji, who confirmed the incident said his Ministry was already monitoring the situation, adding that the Ministry has also deployed officials with drugs to the community to arrest the situation.
Dr Osuji said that the State Epidemiologist and her team would soon be storming the affected community to help arrest the situation.
