Kogi State has announced that 8 people have died from the killer Cholera disease in the State, and that there are 129 confirmed cases.
This was disclosed in a statement by the State Ministry of Health, and Dr Austin Ojotu, the State Epidemiologist, in Lokoja on Wednesday, adding that cases were recorded in Kogi, Bassa, Lokoja, Ankpa, and Kabba -Bunu council areas.
The State Epidemiologist said cases were recorded between February and August, adding that “Seven communities were affected in the aforementioned council areas with 129 cases.”
“These are border communities with hard to reach terrains,” he said, adding that 66 of the cholera cases were recorded in three communities in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa local government areas, where all the eighth deaths were also recorded.
“It is important to mention at this point that most of the deaths have occurred before the reports got to the local government/state authorities.
“Our findings also revealed that majority of the deaths in all the outbreaks occurred at home,” the statement said.
They added that they were working closely with the local governments to avert further outbreaks by strengthening and sustaining community sensitization and mobilization, and ensuring that communities adopted health safety measures such as good personal and environmental hygiene, and washing of hands with soap and water after visiting the toilet.
What you should know
Nairametrics reported last week that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) revealed that Nigeria had recorded 1,178 deaths from Cholera in 37,819 suspected cases in 24 States, and the Federal Capital Territory as of August 14.
