Akwa Ibom State Government has announced the outbreak of ‘a few cases of cholera with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting’ in the fishing community of Emeroke in the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Patrick Essiet, revealed this in a statement on Sunday.
Neighbouring southern Rivers and Bayelsa states had last week recorded 27 deaths from suspected cholera outbreaks.
Essiet disclosed that the Akwa Ibom State epidemiologist had been despatched to the community already to begin enlightenment campaigns on ways to mitigate the outbreak.
He added that health officials had also visited a secondary health facility in the state to ascertain the exact number of cases as a result of the disease.
“The Ministry of Health hereby advises members of the community and the environs that as an immediate intervention, proper hand washing should be done especially after defecation, that drinking water should be boiled before consumption and all persons with symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting should seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility.
“Furthermore, the ministry reminds community leaders to enforce the existing ban on open defecation by the government.
“While the state government is working on a long-term solution, the ministry is currently mobilising supplies to the community as an immediate and short-term measure.”
It advised the public to report all suspected cases of cholera to the director of public health, ministry of health.
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