Cholera kills 60 in Katsina

At least 60 persons have died from cholera in Katsina, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Yakubu Nuhu Danja has said.

He disclosed this at the weekend during the annual general meeting of the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Katsina.

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Danja also said the state has over 1,400 confirmed cases of cholera but did not disclose the affected local government areas.

He, however, assured that the state government was working to curb the spread of the disease.

He said: “We are aware of the current outbreak of diarrhea and vomiting that is affecting some communities in the state. The state government is making efforts towards control of the outbreak.

“Presently, we have over 1,400 confirmed cases of cholera with over 60 recorded deaths. Let me seize this opportunity to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that diarrhea and vomiting is a preventable disease”.

He urged residents to take preventive measures by ensuring personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

“Residents of the state must ensure proper environmental sanitation, frequent hand washing, proper food hygiene, washing of all fruits and vegetables before eating as well as proper cooking of food items.

“Similarly, food vendors must ensure that they cover their food items to avoid contact with flies and people must avoid open defecation and ingestion of contaminated water,” he said.

Danja said while drugs had been purchased by the state government for distribution to hospitals across the state for the treatment of the disease, residents must play their role by taking preventive measures.

The commissioner added that health education on prevention and management of the disease and active case search and surveillance were ongoing across the 34 local government areas of the state.