By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Government has confirmed that nine persons have died from suspected cholera outbreak in the state.
The deaths occured in Andoni and Akuku-Toru local councils of the state respectively.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, while briefing newsmen on the outbreak in Port Harcourt, said the the nine deaths are among the 41 suspected cases reported so far in the state.
The Commissioner said while three persons died in Isiodum Community in Andoni local council of the state, the other six deaths were recorded at Akuku-Toru.
For Isiodum Community, the commissioner stated that although, the ministry has not been able to ascertain that the deaths were from cholera, but added that the cases presented symptoms which are in keeping with the surveillance case definition of cholera.
She said: “As at the 13th of January 2025, we have recorded a total of 41 suspected cases from two local government areas in the state and those local government areas are Andoni and Akuku-Toru.
“Five were confirmed from Akuku-Toru and non yet from Andoni because of our inability to collect stool samples from the reported cases by the time our team was notified.
“We have also recorded nine associated deaths out of which three are from Andoni. It was majorly this deaths that were reported and brought to our attention that necessitated the swift response from our Directorate of Public Health and Disease Control”.
Oreh, explained that on the 11th of January 2025, the attention of the Rivers State Public Health Emergency Centre of the State Ministry of Health was drawn to a signal on three deaths within 48 hours in Isiodum Community in Andoni local council which prompted the State Rapid Response Team to investigate and commenced actions to curtail the outbreak.
The health commissioner said the Rivers State Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners and the Andoni local council authority has activated emergency response measures which includes strengthening surveillance, enhancing the case detection and reporting across health facilities and communities in Andoni.
She also said that rapid response teams have been deployed to affected communities across the state for case management and outbreak containment while distribution of oral dehydration solutions salts, intravenous fluids and essential medicines to the health centres have been carried out.
Other preventive actions taken by the ministry, Oreh highlighted also includes; actively carrying out community sensitization on the cholera prevention and control measures and emergency provision of alternative means of drinking water in collaboration with the local council authorities.
To reduce the chances of spread of the disease, Oreh advised residents of the state to practice regular hand washing using soap and clean water, drinking of water from verifiable sources, eating foods while still hot amongst others.
Oreh, particularly warned against open defecation while calling on community leaders, civil society and the media to partner the ministry in public health education and ensure compliance with preventive measures.
She also called on persons with cases of excessive stooling, acute diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting to visit the nearest health facility in the state for medical attention.
