Delta Govt Debunks Reports Of Cholera Outbreak

Delta State Ministry of Health has debunked reports making rounds of an outbreak of cholera in parts of the state.
According to the ministry, its visit to the two communities in Isoko South Local Government Area suspected to have suffered cholera outbreak, indicated that a total 32 persons were ill, while five reportedly died, two in Umeh and three in Erowa.
In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Churchill Oyowe, said results of stool samples collected and sent to laboratory in Lagos were negative for cholera, emphasizing that the suspected outbreak of gastroenteritis has since been controlled and contained.
The ministry said it could not immediately establish the cause of the death of the five persons, who died and had been buried, adding that investigation showed that no one contacted cholera in the said communities.

The ministry said investigation, however, revealed that those living far from the functional community borehole that makes use of water from the river were the ones having cases of vomiting or stooling while households in the immediate vicinity of the borehole reported no case.
It added that examination of the communities revealed that most of the houses lacked toilet which makes open defecation a common practice.
However, the ministry called on members of the affected communities and Deltans in general to maintain a high hygienic practice, advising them to boil and filter water before drinking.