News

Six Dead, Eight Hospitalized As Cholera Hits Ebonyi

Published

10 years ago

February 20, 2015

No fewer than six persons were yesterday confirmed dead while eight others were hospitalized following cholera outbreak in three communities in the state.
The communities affected were Amachi, Edomia and Ikelegu in Abakaliki and Ebonyi Local Government areas of the state.
Confirming the outbreak, the State Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Christian Achi said six persons died in the council areas while eight persons had been hospitalized and currently receiving treatment in nearby health centres.
Achi said government health officials had been mobilized to the affected communities and some of the victims in critical condition had been stabilized.
He attributed the outbreak of the disease to lack of personal hygiene, portable water and toilet facilities.
“We are advising people to maintain personal and environmental hygiene. When the first case was recorded, we instructed that the person be buried immediately without burial ceremonies but the people did not obey the directive and it affected other victims. The people exposed whatever they eat to flies and these flies perched on them and transmitted diseases such as this to them”, he stated.
Achi observed that “most of the people don’t have toilet facilities as they defecate around their houses which make it easier for the diseases to be transmitted to them” and announced that the state government had sealed over 30 houses for lack of toilet facilities.
The Director advised the people to ensure regular hand-washing with running water to avoid transmission of diseases in various communities across the state.