Cholera Outbreak Claims Four in Gombe

Segun Awofadeji

An outbreak of cholera has claimed the lives of four persons with 48 others affected in Gombe Local Government Area of Gombe State in the past one week.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday’s evening during a press briefing where he said that “27 cases have so far been confirmed as cholera and this has necessitated this release.”

Dahiru said that there had been increased report in the number of persons presenting complains of diarrhea and vomiting since August 7 at the Primary Health Centre Tudun-Wada, which is the designated temporary treatment and rehydration centre for cholera in the Gombe Local Government (GLGA).

He declared that “with the threshold of confirmed cases, I hereby declare an outbreak of cholera in Shamaki, Bolari-East and Herwagana wards of the GLGA.

The commissioner explained that the State Ministry of Health had responded to 14 clusters of Gastroenteritis, which are confirmed to be cholera in Balanga, Yamaltu-deba, Dukku, Akko and Gombe LGAs but that due to the prompt public health actions, these clusters were mitigated and did not reach the threshold to be declared as cholera outbreaks.

He warned that cholera is characterised by severe diarrhea and vomiting, and can be rapidly fatal if prompt and urgent actions were not taken toward management of cases and effective infection prevention control.

“I have activated a multi-sector Incident Management System for a prompt and coordinated response to the outbreak,” he
said.

He also commended the Governor of Gombe State, Mr. Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, for ensuring that all the needed resources for free management of cases at the treatment centre and containment of the outbreak were provided.

“I will like to remind the general public that cholera can be prevented by use of clean water, consumption of hygienically prepared meals, particularly uncooked food.

“Personal hygiene and environmental sanitation are also proven preventive measures,” he advised.