Cholera outbreak: Oyo Government alerts residents
Oyo State Government has called for increased awareness and implementation of preventive measures to stem a possible cholera outbreak.
Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Commissioner of Health, stated this while on a tour of a private hospital in Ibadan where two suspected cholera cases are being treated.
The two suspected cases are male workers from a building site in the Lekki Peninsula of Lagos State. She assured that the Ministry and other partners are dealing with the matter adequately.
WESTERN POST reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recently alerted Nigerians to the increasing outbreak of cholera cases across the country. According to the NCDC, between January and June of this year, 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases have been recorded.
Cholera is an illness caused by an organism present in polluted water and food through which it is spread. Usually, the excrement of diseased people pollutes water. Drinking water can get contaminated at the source, on the way, or when stored at home.
Dirty hands can also contaminate food as it is being prepared or consumed. Key symptoms are diarrhoea and dehydration.
Dr Ajetunmobi explained that cholera is highly infectious and diarrhoea and dehydration may present with nausea, fever and vomiting.
She restated the state government’s initiatives to guarantee that the cholera outbreak in Lagos State is contained and Oyo State records no fatalities.
On government efforts, Dr Ajetunmobi said ”All surveillance rangers at the local government level have been contacted to boost surveillance activities” just as gatekeepers and other community structures have been informed of the situation and placed on red alert.
The Health Commissioner appealed to the public to drink water from clean sources. She also emphasized regular handwashing with soap and maintaining good personal hygiene.
