Six
people have died of cholera in Isolo Local Government Area of
Lagos State after eating contaminated Abacha,
a local delicacy of the people of the South-East geopolitical zone.
The
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who briefed the press about the
development at the state’s secretariat on Thursday, stated that 39
other persons were under observation and receiving treatment at
public and private health facilities in Isolo.
Cholera
is an acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting caused by a bacteria
referred to as vibro
cholerae and it is transmitted through ingestion of food or water
contaminated with infected faeces.
Idris,
who stated that seven out of the 15 samples taken to the Public Health Laboratory,
Yaba, after an upsurge of diarrhoea cases was reported in some
communities in Isolo, tested positive to vibro
cholerae.
He
stated, “Six deaths were recorded among the 45 cases. Majority of the patients
did not present with the classical rice-water stool, rather they presented with
atypical diarrhoea and vomiting.
“After
a thorough analysis of the ano-rectal swabs that were collected from 15
cases, vibrio
cholerae was confirmed and found to be the Ogawa strain of
the virus.
“Twenty-two
of the 26 that were being managed at the Isolo General Hospital and
the Lagos Mainland Hospital have been discharged, one died, while three
are still on admission at the Lagos Mainland Hospital. The three patients are still
on admission but they are in stable condition.”
The
commissioner noted that water and food analysis done at the Lagos State Drug
Quality Control Laboratory showed that Abacha,
a local salad, that was eaten by many of the victims, was the source of
the infection.
Idris
said, “The main suspected source of infection is the salad called Abacha, a staple
food that is consumed regularly in the area. Samples of the local salad
and the well water they consume in the area revealed the presence of vibrio cholerae,
Salmonella species and E.coli in Abacha
and the water sample taken from one of the two wells in the area.”
Source:The
Punch
Tags
Society