by Nurat Uthman
No fewer than 10 persons have died in fresh outbreak of cholera in Ebonyi State.
The deaths were recorded in Ndibokote village in Ezza-Inyimagu, Agbaja Autonomous Community, Izzi local government area.
Commissioner for Health Moses Ekuma confirmed the outbreak and the deaths in an interview with newsmen on Thursday.
Ekuma also revealed that over 20 other persons from the area have been hospitalised for suspected cholera infection.
He said infected persons were rushed to three hospitals in the area by the State Government in collaboration with the Local Government and health partners.
The hospitals include: Sudan United Mission Hospital, Onuenyim Agbaja; Sudan United Mission Hospital Izziogo and Izziogo Health Centre.
The Commissioner blamed the outbreak on poor hygienic practices by the people.
He urged them to adopt good hygienic practices such as stoppage of open defecation, washing their hands regularly, covering their food and drinking clean water.
Chairman of the council, Stephen Nwankpa thanked the State Government for swift response which he noted saved many infected persons.
A member of the community, Stephen Nwankpuma linked the death to the burial of a woman last weekend.
He said: There was a burial there last week and also there were others who went and ate dog killed in the area. People who went to the burial and those who ate the dog were the main people who first got sick.
“Those who went to the burial ate a cow that was killed and prepared in a very dirty environment. Their community is located in the remotest part of the state. In fact it shares boundary with Benue State.
“There is no good source of water in the area. The only borehole in the area is no longer functional. The only source of water there now is a pond or stream and it is very dirty.
“The situation is worsened by the heavy rain falling this period which flowed into the stream carrying all the wastes with it and probably contaminating the pond,” he said.
Cholera, an acute bacteria disease, that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration has been ravaging Ebonyi for decades.
