Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The death toll in Ebonyi cholera outbreak has risen to 13, the state government has said.
This is as the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, has said that no death has been recorded after the intervention of Government and development partners in cholera outbreak which attacked some communities in Ebonyi State.
He stated this in Abakaliki, capital of the state on Sunday.
The Commissioner assured that the cholera outbreak has been brought under control.
While confirming that 69 cases with 13 deaths have so far been recorded, Mr Ekuma disclosed that the deceased lost their lives before the intervention of the State Government adding that no new case has been recorded since Friday 27th September, 2024.
He explained that the disease had spread to other villages such as Ndiogbaga Obashi, Oferekpe in Izzi Local Government Area and Okum village in Ebonyi Local Government Area apart from Ndibokote where it started from.
According to him, the swift action taken by the Ministry, partners and stakeholders made the affected people they met alive to survive.
He said: “presently we have about 69 confirmed cases in Ebonyi State and 13 deaths have been confirmed to be from cholera. Most of the deaths occured in a village called Ndibokote in Ezza Inyimagu Community in Izzi Local Government Area and a nearby village called Ndiogbaga Obashi.”
He outlined the efforts made by the Ministry of Health, the development partners and Izzi Local Government Chairman including the stakeholders to curtail the disease and urged the people not to panic.
The Health boss 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 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’ve not had new case since yesterday. 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 ensuring good health and wellbeing of Ebonyi residents.
