Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Five more persons have been confirmed dead from the cholera outbreak ravaging communities in Ebonyi State, South-East of Nigeria.
The recent deaths were recorded at Ndiagu Okpo-Itumo community in Abakaliki Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, gave the confirmation in an interview with our Reporter on Monday.
Mr Ekuma, a medical doctor, said the outbreak has been curtailed with the quick intervention of the state government, development partners and local government officials.
He outlined the efforts made by the Ministry of Health, the development partners and Abakalili Local Government Chairman including the stakeholders to curtail the disease and urged the people not to panic.
Mr Ekuma disclosed that the affected people at different activated treatment centers are responding to treatment.
“So Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO, Council Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government, the Ebonyi State Rapid Response team and other stakeholders moved immediately to that Community and the outbreak as we speak has been curtailed.
“So there is no need for Ebonyians to panic. Presently, we have not had new cases. The ones we have now are the ones that are in the treatment centers,” Ekuma said.
He maintained that cholera is an oral disease and not an airborne disease and advised the people to observe personal and environmental hygiene as well as report suspected cases for prevention and treatment.
He reiterated government’s commitment to ensure good health and wellbeing of Ebonyi residents.
This brings to 18 the number of deaths recorded in the state from the recent outbreak of the disease.
10 persons were initially reported to have died in Ndibokote community in neighbouring Izzi Local Government Area.
The death toll would later rise to 13 from the affected patients even as the disease would later spread to three other villages in the area.
The disease has so far spread to three local governments of Ebonyi, Izzi and Abakaliki, all in Ebonyi North Senatorial zone.
