Rivers confirms nine deaths from suspected cholera outbreak

The Rivers State Government has confirmed the death of nine persons in two local councils of the state from a suspected outbreak of cholera.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, during a news briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday, named the affected local councils where the outbreak occurred as Andoni, with three deaths, and Akuku-Toru, where six deaths were recorded.

She further stated that the deaths followed from a total of 41 suspected cases in the two councils, but noted that the state government, through the Ministry of Health, has put appropriate measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease.

The commissioner, who expressed sympathy to the victims of the outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea caused by a suspected cholera outbreak in the Isiodun Community of Andoni, noted that the ministry is yet to confirm that the deaths were from cholera.

She said: “With the deepest sense of sympathy to victims of a suspected outbreak of acute watery Diarrhea caused by a suspected cholera outbreak because we at the Ministry of Health are yet to confirm that those deaths were from cholera in Isiodun Community of Andoni Local Council of Rivers State.”

“However, the symptoms of the cases reported are in keeping with the surveillance case definition of cholera.

“Cholera, as we all know, is an acute Diarrhea disease that is caused by the bacteria ‘Vibrio cholerae’. It thrives in areas with poor water sanitation and hygiene wash infrastructure.”
While noting that the state is known for recurrent outbreaks of acute watery Diarrhea and Cholera during dry seasons, the commissioner said these pose significant public health challenges due to the ‘high mobility and mortality rate’.