Lagos records six deaths from cholera

The Lagos State Government says it has recorded six deaths from cholera outbreak out of 45 cases in some communities in Isolo Local Council Development Area.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who made the disclosure on Thursday at a news conference in Lagos, however, was not specific about the timing of the incident.

Idris said that state government was already taking appropriate measures and had contained the outbreak.

He explained that the ministry was notified of an upsurge of diarrhoea in some communities in Isolo LCDA.

“Following this, 45 cases were line-listed by the Epidemiology Unit of the ministry.

“Six deaths were recorded among the 45 cases.

“Majority of the cases did not present with the classical rice-water stool, rather they presented with atypical diarrhoea and vomiting.

“Ano-rectal swabs were collected from 15 cases and taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba.

“Initially, there were no growths; however, continuous culture yielded Vibro cholerae from seven out of the 15 samples,’’ he said.

The commissioner said that the “Vibrio cholera was later confirmed to be Ogawa strain’’.

He said, “The main suspected source of infection is the salad called `Abacha’, a staple food of the residents of Isolo LCDA and adjourning LGAs/LCDAs.

“Some domestic wells within the communities are also suspected.

“Samples of the `Abacha salad’ and well water were collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory for analysis.

“The report of the analysis revealed the presence of Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella species and E.coli in `Abacha’ and one of the two well water samples.’’

Cholera “is an acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting caused by a bacteria referred to as Vibro cholerae, and it is transmitted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with infective faeces”.

It can kill within hours if left untreated.

Punch