Nine Dies from Suspected Cholera Outbreak in Rivers
Barikui Felix- Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Government has confirmed that nine persons have died from a suspected cholera outbreak in the state. The deaths occurred in Andoni and Akuku-Toru local state councils, respectively.
While briefing newsmen on the outbreak in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, said 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, the cases presented symptoms that are in keeping with the surveillance case definition of cholera.
She said: “As of January 13, 2025, we have recorded 41 suspected cases from two local government areas in the state, Andoni and Akuku-Toru.
“Five were confirmed from Akuku-Toru and none 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. Majorly, these deaths that were reported and brought to our attention necessitated the swift response from our Directorate of Public Health and Disease Control”.
Dr.Oreh explained that on January 11, 2025, the attention of the Rivers State Public Health Emergency Centre of the State Ministry of Health was drawn to a signal of three deaths within 48 hours in Isiodum Community in Andoni local council, which prompted the State Rapid Response Team to investigate and commence 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 include strengthening surveillance, enhancing case detection, and reporting across health facilities and communities in Andoni.
She also said that rapid response teams had been deployed to affected communities across the state to manage cases and contain outbreaks, and oral dehydration solutions, salts, intravenous fluids, and essential medicines have been distributed to health centers.
Other preventive actions taken by the ministry, Oreh highlighted, include actively carrying out community sensitization on 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 the disease spreading, Oreh advised residents of the state to practice regular hand washing using soap and clean water, drink water from verifiable sources, and eat foods while still hot, among other things.
Dr. Oreh particularly warned against open defecation while calling on community leaders, civil society, and the media to partner with 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, and vomiting to visit the nearest health facility in the state for medical attention.
