The leadership of Lagelu local government area of Oyo state has confirmed the outbreak of Cholera, a known deadly disease that has claimed the lives of 11 persons in the local government while others hospitalized.
The caretaker chairman, Lagelu local government, Honorable Kelani Abdullai, in a chat with Oyo Affairs correspondent, explained that the cholera outbreak was first recorded at Ariku village in Lagelu area of the state with 5 persons killed and eventually spread to Lagun village where 6 persons also gave up the ghost as a result of complications from the deadly acute infectious disease.
Honorable Abdullai noted that part of his immediate action was to investigate the cause of the cholera outbreak adding that investigation revealed that it was due to lack of access to clean and potable water by the affected persons.
He explained that 11 persons lost their lives to the epidemic, while 5 persons were hospitalized and 4 persons discharged.
Meanwhile, the state commissioner for health, Dr. Bashir Bello, in a chat with Oyo Affairs correspondent, said the tests carried out on the affected persons in Lagelu local government area are still premature and the samples collected have not been confirmed to be cholera.
He, however, added that the surveillance and health officers sent to the domains of the affected persons, reports that the victims are living in a very dirty environment and were all exposed to infections.
Dr. Bello, however, noted that the infected persons have been hospitalized and are all responding to treatment.
The health commissioner, however, called for calm, stating that the state government is on top of the situation.
Cholera is any of several acute infectious diseases of humans and domestic animals, caused by certain strains of the Vibrio cholera bacterium through ingestion of contaminated water or food, usually marked by severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.