Six Dead, 72 Hospitalised As Suspected Cholera Outbreak Hits Delta Council

SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, (THEWILL) – No fewer than six persons are feared dead in a suspected cholera outbreak in Aladja community, Udu Council Area of Delta State.

About a hundred others are said to have been hospitalised.

Sources disclosed to THEWILL that the incident occurred last week with few persons being affected but the death toll increased to over six persons during last weekend when the disease became more pronounced.

Community sources told our correspondent that about 100 persons were being hospitalised in different hospitals and health centres within Udu Council Area while those with severe cases are receiving treatment at the Central Hospital, Warri.

Our sources added that when the epidemic started, local residents thought it was a calamity resulting from unprecedented evil but later test discovered that it was cholera.

Our correspondent reports that most of the drinking waters are suspected be contaminated and unclean.

The cause of the outbreak has not been ascertained.

When contacted, Udu council chairman, Hon. Solomon Kpomah, confirmed the incident, saying that the council acted swiftly by deploying a team of medical personnel to the community to curtail it from spreading to other villages.

According to him, the state government has also sent their own medical team to the area to test and treat those suspected to be affected.

“We'll continue to carry out sensitisation campaign. There is need for a holistic approach by all parties towards curtailing the disease,” he said.

He urged residents of the community to maintain hygienic and cleaner environment by disposing their wastes properly, saying  “They should also be cautious of the water they drink and also the food they eat.”

Aladja is one of the major communities in Udu Council and it is bordered by a river to the west and east.

World Health Organisation, (WHO), describes  cholera as an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

WHO said researchers have estimated that every year, there are roughly 1.4 to 4.3 million cases, and 28 000 to 142 000 deaths per year worldwide due to cholera. The short incubation period of two hours to five days is one  factor that triggers the potentially explosive pattern of outbreaks.