Cholera Outbreak Kills Three In Lagos

Three persons have died of cholera in Lagos State. Many others are being treated at various hospitals in Ajeromi, Apapa, Lagos Island, Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere local government areas.

Speaking with reporters yesterday, Commissioner for Health Jide Idris said efforts were ongoing to curb the spread of the disease.

He urged residents to ensure high standards of hygiene at all times and keep their environment clean.

Idris said: “Although many of the cases have been treated and discharged in several health facilities, three have been confirmed dead. Most of the suspected cases are from Ajeromi, Apapa, Lagos Island, Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere local government areas.”

He said investigations by his ministry showed that the suspected cases were contracted from eating infected food, such as abacha (African salad), and drinking well water, especially in Ikare, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government; and Badia, Apapa Local Government.

The commissioner urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case, dead or alive, to the nearest health facility and the directorate of disease control at the State Ministry of Health.

He said cholera is an acutely contagious bacterial disease characterised by a sudden onset of “profuse painless watery stool, nausea and profuse vomiting”.

Idris said cholera is contracted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. He said food and water become contaminated when they come in contact with the feaces of infected persons.

He said: “Cholera should be suspected in any person who develops diarrheoa with or without vomiting, weakness, restlessness, irritability, dry mucous membrane, low blood pressure, leg cramps, excessive loss of body fluid (dehydration) or dies from frequent stooling, hence measures should be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.”

To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, the commissioner urged people to wash their hands with soaps and water frequently and thoroughly boil water before drinking if the source of the water was in doubt; wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating; cook food thoroughly before eating; dispose wastes properly; and keep water containers clean.

The Nation learnt that Sunday Emeka, a generator repairer at Sijuade Street, Ago, died in a hospital around 2am on Sunday after stooling and vomiting continuously.

It was learnt that the late Emeka, who lived close to the Oke Afa canal in Ago, went out to watch a football match when he suddenly started stooling and vomiting.

According to his brother’s pregnant wife, who refused to give her name, the family became apprehensive when the stooling and vomiting became continuous.

She said: “We rushed him to the hospital and were surprised to meet other people there with similar condition. They asked us to deposit N20,000 and we dropped N5,000 so that they could start treating him. They immediately started giving him drips but he was still vomiting and stooling until around 2am, when he died.

“When we saw other patients with similar symptoms, I asked the doctor what was happening and he said they were suspecting an outbreak of cholera, but they had not confirmed it.”

The Nation observed that the environment where the deceased lived and worked were untidy.

Drains on Sijuade Street, where his shop is situated, were blocked and dirty. The sloppy street is behind Century Market and flood water from the canal can easily contaminate wells in the area.

At Femi Killa, it was learnt that about three people died after eating abacha (African Salad).

An hair stylist, simply identified as Esther, said they initially thought the abacha was contaminated until they heard that people who did not eat abacha were also affected.

She said: “I do not know the names of the victims but a woman was among them. She died on Tuesday after eating abacha. They said she was vomiting and holding her stomach, and then, she fell on the road and died.

“The other two are boys. They live at Poopola Street, but I do not know their house. I heard the police arrested the abacha seller after the victims’ death.

The Nation visited hospitals in Okota, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Ijesha and Surulere and learnt that many patients with cholera symptoms had been admitted in the last one week.

At a particular hospital in Ago, Okota, about 10 pale-looking patients, including two siblings, were on drips to prevent dehydration.

One of them said she was rushed to the hospital on Saturday around 5am.

She said: “I did not eat anything. I started purging and vomiting around 10pm after I saw my sister doing so too. The last thing I took that night was sachet water and that is what we drink in our house. We stay around Pako Bus Stop, close to the Oke Afa canal.

“When my mother saw that my sister and I were getting weak, she rushed us to the hospital and since Saturday, we have been on admission here. My mum told us that other people were brought in with similar symptoms.”

Although most doctors at the hospitals visited said there was a cholera outbreak in the state, the Medical Director of Ago Medical Centre, Dr. Kola Afolabi, had a different view.

He said there was an outbreak of gastroenteritis, which he described as one of the causes of cholera.

Afolabi said: “Yes, in the past one week, patients with frequent diarrheoa and vomiting have been brought to my hospital, but I cannot say it is cholera because a diagnosis must be conducted to confirm that it is cholera. Even on questioning, no patient has mentioned having rice-water stool.

“Gastroenteritis is one of the symptoms of cholera, but cholera comes with rice-water stool. In this case, we have not seen any patient whose stool has the colour of rice-water.

“It is caused by both virus and bacteria. The virus is vibro-cholera and entero-viruses, while bacteria such as Salmonella and e-coli, among others, can cause it. People should avoid unsafe foods and drinks. When they say cholera is a water-borne disease, it does not mean it cannot be contracted through food.

“Once a fly perches on faeces, maybe from the canal, and lands on an uncovered meal, it could cause cholera. Also, highly congested areas are bound to suffer it if there is an outbreak.

“However, we have reported to the local government and they are looking into it. I am sure that before the end of this week, they will take action. Cholera occurs in all age groups and kills in less than 24 hours, if necessary actions are not taken.

“People should always boil their water and preserve well prepared food to avoid contamination. The first-aid solution is salt water solution and if it does not stop, they patient should quickly visit a hospital where appropriate treatment will be given.”