No fewer than 50 children are feared dead following a measles outbreak in Kugbo Clan of Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the disease that was first reported in Amurouttoru-Kugbo Community has now spread to Emago-Kugbo and Akani-Kugbo communities leading to the death of several children in the three communities.
Confirming the development to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Community Development Committee Chairman of Emago Kugbo Community, Levi Marcus, said “We have a situation that is ravaging Okugbo Clan. That is to say, Emakgbo, Akani, and Akpotu. And the situation we are talking about is measles.
“In Akani-Okugbo, from what we witnessed and confirmed, 20 children have died. Then again, if you go to Amuruotoru, we also have the same situation. We have up to 15 recorded cases.
“We have tried our best to reach the government, but they (government) have not responded.”
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of the Emago-Kugbo community, Edoghotu Edwin, who said he visited other communities to ascertain the situation of things, appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the communities.
He said, “The situation now is bad. Measles has taken over the community, and the children are suffering. Over 15 children have died in Emago.
“The situation has extended to Akani and Amuruotor. And we are calling on the government to come to our aid because there are no health workers to handle the situation.”
Meanwhile, the state government said it has dispatched a fact-finding team to the affected communities.
