HEALTH ALERT! Two Die as Cholera Outbreak Hits Lagos

The Lagos State Government has announced the outbreak of Cholera disease in the city . They made this announcement at a press conference in Alausa yesterday, confirming at least two persons have died from the outbreak.

It was also gathered that 25 other residents are receiving treatment in hospitals following an outbreak of the disease in three local government areas of the state.

According to the Lagos State Government, the outbreak was due to the heavy rainfall being experienced and the aftermath of flooding in the state, Vanguard reports.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who was joined at the briefing by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, stated that the outbreak had been traced to the Somolu, Oshodi-Isolo, and Surulere local government areas.

”Twenty-seven cases have been listed by our epidemiology/disease surveillance officers as of today, July 25, 2017. Two deaths were recorded from the 27 cases.

In Oshodi-Isolo LGA, two cases were recorded. One was managed at a private hospital and he is alive, while one died at home. In Surulere LGA, 14 cases were reported and managed at Randle General Hospital. No death was recorded,” the commissioner said.

”The main suspected source of infection is the contamination of water sources with faecal matter from faulty septic tanks and soakaway, following the heavy rainfall in the state.

Samples of well water have been collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory. We are still expecting the results.

The clinical manifestations of Cholera are nausea, profuse diarrhoea, vomiting (in early stages of illness), fever, and leg cramp. Later presentations are dehydration, shock or coma,” he added.

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The commissioner also pleaded with people to use potable water, adding that sanitation was critical in reducing the impact of cholera and other water-borne diseases.

He further stated that the government had instituted measures to contain the outbreak.

”We have instituted measures towards quick containment and control of the outbreak. The medical directors of our General Hospitals have been placed on alert and fact sheets on Cholera forwarded to both public and private hospitals.

Our community health workers, especially the Medical Officers of Health, Health Educators, Disease Surveillance/Notification Officers, Environmental Health Officers are in the community striving towards quick containment and control of spread of the disease.

Chlorination of water supply has been intensified, awareness campaign is on-going and cases are being promptly diagnosed and appropriately managed in our hospitals.”

The Lagos State Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, urges residents to treat their water sources to reduce their risk of contracting cholera.

”Many wells and boreholes will be contaminated by now and they need to be treated by chlorination.

We also need to start washing our hands with soap and water after using the toilet. In areas where access to water is a challenge, please use sanitisers. We basically need to adopt the attitude we had towards hygiene during the Ebola outbreak.”