Cholera outbreak kills seven in Gombe
Gombe State government on Thursday confirmed that seven persons including a two year old boy have died of Cholera outbreak in Akko local government area of the state.
The state Commissioner for health, Dr. Habu Dahiru who confirmed this to Newsmen at the Heal Emergency Operation Centre village of Akko local governments area.
Dahiru disclosed further that so far, about 32 cases have been treated and discharged while six are currently on admission.
He added that a Rapid Response Team was deployed immediately, cases were confirmed in the laboratory and a free treatment center for cases was established at BOGO Model Primary Health Centre.
“The onset of the rainy season at times herald the period for cholera outbreaks attributable to drinking contaminated water. Cholera is characterised by severe diarrhea and vomiting, and can be rapidly fatal if prompt and urgent actions are not taken toward management of cases and effective infection prevention control. It is easily spread in the community if control measures are sub-optimal,” said Dahiru.
According to him, with the threshold of confirmed cases reached, “I hereby declare an outbreak of cholera in Garko ward of Akko Local Government area.”
“You may recall that a similar mechanism was used for the success recorded by the state in controlling a similar outbreak in Liji Community in March this year,” he said.
Dahiru reminded the public that cholera can be prevented by the use of clean water, consumption of hygienically prepared meals, particularly uncooked food adding that personal hygiene and environmental sanitation are also proven preventive measures.
