Cholera Die in Rivers from Cholera Outbreak
Omiete Joseph
Nine persons have been killed by cholera disease in communities in Rivers State.
Confirming the deaths, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh said that the State has also recorded 41 suspected cases of cholera in Akuku-Toru and Andoni Local Government Areas of the state.
Dr Oreh made this known when she spoke with journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt, on the outbreak
Who confirmed that the death is linked to the cholera, said “As at January 13, 2025, we have recorded a total of 41 suspected cases from two local government areas in the state and those local government areas are Andoni and Akuku-Toru.
“Five were confirmed from Akuku-Toru and non yet from Andoni because of our inability to collect stool samples from the reported cases by the time our team was notified.
We have also recorded nine associated deaths out of which two are from Andoni. It was majorly these deaths that were reported and brought to our attention that necessitated the swift response from our Directorate of Public Health and Disease Control.”
Dr Oreh recalled that the “Attention of Rivers State Public Health Emergency Centre of the Rivers State Ministry of Health was drawn to a signal on three deaths within 48 hours in Isiodum Community in Andoni local government area. The State Rapid Response Team led by the director of Public Health and Disease Control investigated and commenced actions to curtail that outbreak”.
She continued that “The Rivers State Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners and the Andoni local government area authority has activated emergency response measures and these includes strengthening surveillance, enhancing the case detection and reporting across health facilities and communities in Andoni, rapid response teams were deployed to affected communities across the state for case management and outbreak containment, provision supplies, distribution of oral rehydration solutions salts, intravenous fluids and essential medicines to the health centres.”
Dr Oreh disclosed that the team is actively carrying out community sensitisation on the cholera prevention and control measures and emergency provision of alternative means of drinking water in string collaboration with the affected local government areas.
To reduce the spread of cases of cholera, noting that certain communities are highly prone to the disease, Dr Oreh advised residents of the state to “practice good hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap and clean water especially before eating and after using the toilet, ensure safety of drinking water, boil water or treat with chlorine before it’s used”.
She further advised that people should, “avoid consuming water from unverified sources, eating of safe foods, food should be cooked thoroughly and eaten while still hot, fruits and vegetables should be washed with clean waters, disposal of waste materials, use of latrines for human waste and avoidance of open defecation, keeping the environment clean, seek immediate medical care, visit the nearest health facility if you or anyone around you notices symptoms should as profuse diarrhea, vomiting or severe dehydration, early treatment saves lives”.
She however called for community action, saying “The Rivers State Ministry of Health and the Rivers State Government is appealing to community leaders, civil society organisations and the media to support public health education and ensure compliance with preventive measures”.