LAGOS CONFIRMS 27 CASES OF CHOLERA OUTBREAK, 2 DEATHS

IKEJA, Nigeria – The Lagos State government has confirmed 27 cases of diarrhoea outbreak and two fatalities recorded in the State, as a result of the incident. Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Jide Idris, made this assertion on Tuesday while briefing pressmen in Ikeja, the State capital.

He said following the heavy rainfall experienced in the State recently and the aftermath of flooding of some areas in the metropolis, the Ministry had been receiving notifications on the upsurge of acute diarrhoea diseases in some Local Government Areas.

According to Idris: “Specifically the upsurge has been reported in Somolu LGA, on 19th July, Oshodi-Isolo LGA on 20th and Surulere LGA on 21st July 2017. 27 cases have been line-listed by the Epidemiolgy/Disease Surveillance Officers in the State as at today, 25th July, 2017.

“Regrettably, two deaths were recorded from the 27 cases. Six cases were recorded in Somolu LGA, one of which died. Four were managed at Somolu General Hospital, one was managed at a private hospital, another one was managed at Mainland Hospital, while one died at home. Only two of the cases are still on admission.

“Two cases were recorded in Oshodi-Isolo LGA. One was managed at a private hospital and he is alive, while one died at home.

Fourteen cases were reported at Surulere LGA and managed at Randle General Hospital. No death was recorded. Two cases were managed at Mainland Hospital, both are alive. Three cases were managed at Gbagada General Hospital and all are alive. The cases managed at the two hospitals are currently being investigated,” he said.

The Commissioner said majority of the cases presented with the typical diarrhoea and vomiting associated with cholera. He added that Ano-rectal swabs were collected from two cases from Somolu General Hospital and taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba.

“The main suspected source of infection is the contamination of water sources with faecal matter from faulty septic tanks and soak-away following the heavy rainfall. Samples of well water were collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory. We are still expecting the results of the analysis.

“It has become necessary to remind the general public once again that acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting is caused by a bacteria disease 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 they are infective watery stool gets into food or drinking water supplies. Prevention can be achieved through basic water sanitation,” Idris said.

He said 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. The risk of contracting cholera is increased mainly by poor water and environmental sanitation, including open defecation.

He said the government had instituted measures towards quick containment and control of the outbreak. The Medical Directors of General Hospitals have been placed on alert and fact sheets on Cholera have been forwarded to both public and private hospitals. He equally said community health workers, especially the Medical Officers of Health, Health Educators, Disease Surveillance/Notification Officers, Environmental Health Officers were in the community striving assiduously towards quick containment and control of spread of the disease.

Dr. Idris said chlorination of water supply had been intensified and that awareness campaign was on-going, and that cases were being promptly diagnosed and appropriately managed in hospitals.
He advised Lagosians to maintain personal and environmental hygiene at all time so as to forestall further recurrence of the disease. Where cholera is suspected, he admonished the people to prepare Oral Rehydration Solution (10 level teaspoonful of sugar + 1 level teaspoon of salt in two 35cl bottles), as treatment and report the case to the nearest hospital.