Cholera ravages 20 states, kills 97 – Commissioner

Cholera outbreak has been reported in 20 states afflicting 6,850 persons with 97 deaths, the Niger state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mustahpa Jibrin, has said.
Jibrin stated this yesterday while briefing journalists on the outbreak of the disease in four local governments of the state.
He explained that the onset of the raining season had resulted in the prevalence of the disease in several states, including Niger state.
He said the disease which was initially reported in Bida area of the state with 74 cases and seven deaths has spread to three other local governments of Gbako, Lavun and Katcha increasing the number of cases to 120 with three more deaths.
The commissioner said those killed by the disease were mainly children within the ages of seven to 13 and urged people to maintain high level of hygiene
He explained that 15 cases had been reported in Gbako, 21 in Lavun and 10 in Katcha local governments, adding that a total of 205 cases of gastroenteritis have also been reported in nine local governments of Agaie, Gurara, Lapai, Mokwa, Munya, Paikoro, Suleja, Tafa and Wushishi.
He said the Niger state government had released the sum of N25 million to fight the scourge, adding that quick response teams had been dispatched to the affected areas to curtail the spread of the disease.
He said the ministry had purchased required drugs for treatment of patients while antibiotics were being administered to curtail the spread of the disease.
“The state is collaborating closely with World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations International Children Education Fund to stop the menace.
“Niger state government has sent a rapid response clinical team to assist in the management of the outbreak. The state also dispatched outbreak team to the affected councils for assessment and active case search.”