Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
Not less than six people have died of diarrhoea in Lagos State. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who made the revelation in Lagos said that so far, a total of 45 cases of diarrhoea have been recorded in the state.
“The Ministry was notified of an upsurge of diarhhoea diseases in some communities in Isolo LCDA. Following this, 45 cases were line-listed by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry. Six (6) deaths were recorded among the 45 cases. Majority of the cases did not present with the classical rice-water stool, rather they presented with a typical diarrhoea and vomiting”, he said.
According to him, Ano-rectal swabs were collected from 15 cases and taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba. He said that there were no growths initially, but that continuous culture yielded Vibrocholerae from 7 out of the 15 samples.
“The Vibrio cholera was later confirmed to be Ogawa strain. 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 2 Well water samples.
“Cholera is an acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting caused by a bacteria referred to as Vibrocholerae and it is transmitted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with infective faeces. Food or water contamination is usually due to poor sanitation and the source of contamination is usually other cholera cases when their infective watery stool gets into food or drinking water supplies. Prevention of cholera can be achieved through basic water sanitation, such as boiling water of unclean sources. Cholera can kill within hours if left untreated”, he said.
He explained that about 75% of people infected with V. cholera do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria is present in their faeces for 7–14 days after infection and that they are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people.
“Among people who develop symptoms, 80% have mild or moderate symptoms, while around 20% develop acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration. This can lead to death if untreated. The case fatality of Cholera ranges from less than 1% in treated cases to as high as 50% in severe cases.
“Cholera usually present clinically as nausea, profuse diarrhoea, vomiting (in early stages of illness), fever and leg cramp. Later presentation is dehydration, shock or coma. The risk of contracting cholera is increased mainly by poor water and environmental sanitation, including open defecation.
“Twenty six (26)cases were managed at Isolo General Hospital and Lagos Mainland Hospital. Twenty two (22) have been discharged, one (1) died, while three (3) are still on admission at Lagos Mainland Hospital. All the 3 cases that are still on admission are in stable conditions.
“Seventeen (17) of the cases were managed at Private Health Facilities (Healing Cross Hospital, Isolo-4 cases, Bola Hospital Isolo- 5 cases, West Care Hospital, Ejigbo- 5 cases and New Line Hospital, Isolo- 3 cases). Three (3) of the 17 cases died. All the 14 cases on admission have been discharged”, he said.
