Cholera Outbreak in Rivers State, Nigeria, Claims Two Lives

Two people were confirmed dead, while 16 people said to have survived the recent cholera outbreak that pervaded some parts of Rivers State.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh who stated this in a press statement she released personally in Port Harcourt on Thursday explained that as at the time the address was made, there were no reports of cholera in the state.

Oreh disclosed that the incident in the state manifested in three communities of Andoni Local Government Area, and said that the two people died with symptoms that resemble cholera.

The health commissioner said all the cases were within the past four weeks when the ailment was running riot in other states of the nation and two people tested positive for the ravaging ailment.

She said: “Cholera remains a major public health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria, and indeed, Rivers State, have not been spared from sporadic cases of especially short-lived rural outbreaks.

“Regarding the past four weeks in the state, we have had about 16 suspected cases of acute watery diarrhoea across three communities in coastal areas of Andoni Local Government Area, with two associated deaths.

“The scenario was rapidly resolved, and two samples tested positive for cholera by a screening tool with a rapid diagnostic test (not confirmed by culture).”

Oreh also said that presently, there are no patients with cholera in the state, to which she urged residents of the state to be clean.

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She disclosed that the seasonal outbreak modelling has assisted in placing commodities at strategic places based on historical outbreaks, increasing health personnel capacity, and initiating community health promotion for safe practices.

“State surveillance is at an all high for triggers and suspected cases. The infectious disease treatment centre at Rivers State University, which is marked for upgrade to an infectious disease institute, is ready and able to manage cases in the case of any eventuality.” she added.

She concluded by assuring the citizens of “the state government’s commitment to adequately support, respond to, and contain these priority diseases.”