Cholera Kills Over 700 in Northern Nigeria

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 29, 2001

Cholera Kills Over 700 in Northern Nigeria

An outbreak of cholera has killed more than 700 people, including 200 children, in two states in northern Nigeria, Lagos radio reported on Wednesday.

An outbreak of cholera has killed more than 700 people, including 200 children, in two states in northern Nigeria, Lagos radio reported on Wednesday.

Kano State Health Commissioner Mansur Kabir was quoted as saying that since the outbreak began last month, at least 600 people had died of cholera in Kano, where the epidemic killed more than 200 out of just over 600 children rushed to the Hafiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital.

"The epidemic has been worse than we expected. One wouldn't be wrong to be say that no fewer than 600 people have lost their lives," he said.

Regional officials said the dreadful disease spread to Kano's northeastern neighboring Jigawa State in earlier November and claimed over 100 lives.

The plague first broke out in Dala district near Kano State capital of Kano, where eight water wells identified as the source of the disease have been sealed off.

According to reports from field officials, more than 3,000 people have been treated and sent home in the two states.

Kabir announced that in an effort to contain the situation, the government has dispatched medical team and health workers on house- to-house counseling in addition to medicine and drugs sent to every nook and cranny of the state.

"I am always going to the IDH (the main Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kano) to see patients and I intermingle with the patients. I believe I must have contracted cholera through that process but however I was admitted and am now fine," he said.

When asked about the efforts by the government to bring an immediate and permanent end to this situation, Kabir noted that there has been an hourly radio announcement telling people about the preventive measures which include purifying water and any edible item before consumption.

The state government has also written to the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund to ask for urgent help.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State health authorities are making efforts to check the spread of the disease, assuring that it is preparing to manage situation adequately.

Jigawa State commissioner for health Alhaji Babara Aujara disclosed that drugs worth 18 million naira (153,800 U.S. dollars) have been distributed to hospitals in the state in anticipation of any outbreak.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea, leading to acute dehydration. It can be fatal if not treated properly. Health officials attributed the spread of the cholera scourge to poor sanitation and overcrowding in poorly ventilated buildings.

Earlier in September, long-term floods in the two northern states made the residents difficult to access the potable water so they have to use the dirty drinking water. When the dry and hot season is falling, the epidemic started ravaged the two states.

Earlier last month, a cholera outbreak has killed at least 40 people in central Kwara State. Last year, several dozen people died of the disease in parts of Kano State.

Outbreak of Cholera Worsens in Southern Africa

Cholera Shows No Sign of Abating in S. African Province

Cholera Outbreak Hits 43 Victims in S. Korea