Nigeria: Cholera outbreak

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.afriquejet.com/news/afri...claims-39-lives-in-nigeria-2009081833567.html

Cholera outbreak claims 39 lives in Nigeria
News - Africa news

Lagos, Nigeria - An outbreak of cholera in Nigeria's northern Adamawa state has claimed the lives of 39 people, including a family of three, the local press reported Tuesday.

A 52-year-old man, his wife and son are among the victims of the cholera outbreak in the Maiha council area of the state, which has been blamed on lack of potable water and poor personal hygiene by the residents of the area.

According to the deputy chairman of the council, Yahya Hamman-Julde, the epidemic could not be adequately tackled because of the ongoing strike by medical and health workers in the state.

He called for assistance from the state and federal governments to contain the spread of the infectious disease, an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium 'Vibrio cholerae'.

Lagos - 18/08/2009

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Nigeria: Cholera outbreak

Source: http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=157889

20 Dead As Cholera Ravages Adamawa
From Matthew Onah in Yola, 10.24.2009

A fresh outbreak of the deadly water-borne disease, Cholera have been reported in Michika Local Govern-ment Council Area of Adamawa State leaving over 20 people dead in the current outbreak..
The disease, which has been ravaging the entire state in the last two months, is believed to have affected 12 out of the 21 local government council areas of the state, leaving in its wake over 3000 people dead and over 1,000 persons critically ill in hospitals.
The current outbreak, in Tillizo, a mountainous settlements, 2 hours trekking distance , from Bazza, a major settlement in Michika is said to have left 20 people, mostly elderly and children dead, and over 100 others still critically ill.
Tillizo Community Leader, Sebastian Dauda, told THISDAY that the current outbreak was noticed about a week ago and all efforts to get the State Ministry of Health Officials to come to the area, has proved abortive, as they complained of being overstretched.
The rapid spread of the disease, is compounded by the recent strike action embarked upon by the Health and Allied Workers Union, about two weeks ago, in protest against the stoppage of the payment of their HATTiS allowances by the State Government.The strike action by the Health Workers has reduced state government capacity for Intervention , to a minimal level, as the Chairman of the Local Government council is said to have been flown abroad for Medical check-up.A medical practitioner Dr Francis Zira, serving in the area,, called on the federal and state governments to Intervene urgently to check further loss of lives.Hon. Binta Garba, member of the House of Representatives, whose constituency, Tilliozo, is included, , told THISDAY when contacted, that she is already making contact with the officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, to seek their Intervention, promising that assistance would soon be on the way.THE state commissioner of health, Dr Zainab Kwonche, confirmed the new outbreak of the disease , stating that assistance is being mobilized to the area, adding that already, a mobile medical squad had been established to check such occurrences.