Panic as cholera outbreak hits Oyo, Ogun

Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan

Fear has gripped residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, following reported outbreak of cholera in some parts of the state.

Cholera, a killer bacterial disease causing severe diarrhea and dehydration is reported to have broken out at Araromi-Idowu, Bakatari,Omi Adio and Apete in Ido Local Government Area of the state.

It could not be officially confirmed the number of casualties as of the time of filing this report.

But visits to some of the hospitals in Omi Adio, Bakatari and Apete confirmed cases of cholera being treated in private health facilities.

Investigation revealed that patients who were infected with the killer disease were either administered with local herbs or rushed to private health facilities at Bakatari and Omi Adio for medical attention.

When contacted, an Oyo State epidemiologist, Dr. Akinfemi Akinyode, said he was not permitted to speak with the press, adding that it was the rule by the state government that an unauthorised official ought not to grant the press access to information.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Muftau Ayoola, when contacted to speak on the arrangement being put in place by the state government to curtail the spread of the killer disease, said ”a lot is being done by the government to check the outbreak of cholera in the state.”

Other reports, however, had it that 25 people were reported killed by the disease which has spread to other parts of the state and some neighbouring Ogun communities.

Areas mostly affected are said to be Magboro, ObafemiOwode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that an outbreak had also hit Arepo, Akeran, Akintonde, Sofolarin and Abule-Oko communities of Magboro, creating anxiety among residents.

According to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, “the incident is predominant among Okada riders and scavengers in the area.”

Speaking on the development, Chairman, Magboro Akasan Community Development Committee (CDC), Oluwasegun Oladosu, confirmed that 15 deaths had been recorded.

He explained that about 10 Hausa people who relocated from the community to Kara settlement had equally died of cholera.

He added that commercial motorcyclists who are of Hausa extraction were most hit by the outbreak, adding that some of the Okada riders had earlier returned from a trip and probably might have been infected with cholera.

Oladosu said an eight-year-old girl currently battling cholera had also been rushed to the community clinic for treatment.