Cholera kills 80 in Adamawa

Eighty persons have so far been confirmed dead as a result of cholera outbreak in nine local government areas of Adamawa State with over 1,000 cases recorded.

The state government has procured the Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) worth N1.6 million as part of measures to curtail the spread of the disease, officials say.

The state director of disease control, Dr. L.C. Barka, who confirmed the death toll to our correspondent yesterday, said rapid response teams from the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with other donor agencies were deployed to the affected areas and they are on the top of the situation.

‘’There is an impressive improvement in the control of the epidemic,’’ Dr Barka said.

Worst hit is Madagali Local Government Area, where all the wards have been enveloped by the epidemic. Other local councils affected are Yola South, Demsa, Numan , Guyuk, Ganye, Michika and Lamurde.

While attributing the outbreak to poor hygiene and misapplication of drugs, Dr Barka expressed concern that ignorance by some local health officials compounded the situation. The director stressed the need for people to be health conscious and report any strange disease in their locality for prompt attention.