No fewer than 10 persons including men, women, and children have been confirmed dead following a recent cholera outbreak in Ndibokote village, Ezza Inyimagu, Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
The outbreak, which emerged on September 23, 2024, has also claimed the life of a nursing mother, leaving behind her 9-month-old baby.
Speaking during the Rapid Response at Iziogo Health Centre on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, confirmed the outbreak and reported that no fewer than 10 deaths have been recorded, with 20 affected individuals responding to treatment.
He outlined the efforts being made by the Ebonyi State government to mitigate and control the situation and commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for approving funds for the procurement of medical supplies to address the outbreak.
To combat the outbreak, the Commissioner noted that three treatment centers, including Iziogo Health Centre, Sudan Mission, Onuenyim, and Ndibokote villages, had been established in the area.
He advised residents to take precautionary measures to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Dr. Ekuma advised residents to seek immediate medical attention at these centers if they experience symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
He said, “Once you start experiencing symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, or even any related symptoms, you should rush to any of these emergency treatment centres.”
The commissioner added that he had embarked on the emergency rapid response to avoid further loss of life in the area and commended development partners such as the World Health Organisation and UNICEF for their support.
On his part, the Director, Public Health, Dr. Hyacinth Ebenyi, attributed the outbreak to open defecation, poor hygiene, and the burial of a woman suspected to have died from cholera.
It was learnt that the affected community relies on streams for drinking water, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
