KGSG reports cholera outbreak in 5 LGAs, confirms 129 cases in 7 communities »

Kogi State Government has reported the outbreak of diarhoea and vomiting suspected to be cholera in some Local Government Areas of the State in recent time noting that LGAs including Kogi, Bassa, Lokoja, Ankpa and Kabba Bunu have been affected between February and August of this year.

The information which was made known on Wednesday in a press statement by the state’s epidemiologist, Dr. Austin Ojotu where he stated that Seven communities were affected in the aforementioned LGAs with 129 cases.

He noted that the ministry was able to confirm cholera in three of the communities in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa LGAs with 66 persons affected and 8 deaths (CFR=12.12% adding that these were Border Communities with hard to reach terrains.

Part of the statement reads “It is important to mention at this point that most of the deaths have occurred before the reports got to the local government/state authorities. Our findings also revealed that majority of the deaths in all the outbreaks occurred at home”

Dr. Austin noted that in all the cases, the State Ministry of Health has supported the outbreak response with response commodities and technical support and the state was working closely with the local government to avert further outbreaks by strengthening and sustaining community sensitization and mobilization.

He stressed that such effort was to ensure that Communities adopted health safety measures such as good personal and environmental hygiene, washing of hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet, avoid open defecation, boiling of drinking waters and proper cooking and handling of food and vegetables before eating as these measures are very key in preventing diarrhae diseases.

“People with diarhoea and vomiting are encouraged to visit the nearest health facility as soon as they notice symptoms” he said

The medical practitioner assured that Government would continue to collaborate with critical stakeholders and partners to ensure that no single individual died of preventable disease in the state adding that they would work with relevant agencies and ensure provision of portable water in communities within the state to ensure that diarrhoea disease was reduced to the barest minimum in the State.