Cholera kills six in Lagos, 39 under observation

Six people have died of cholera in  Isolo  Local Government Area  of Lagos State after eating contaminated Abacha, a local delicacy of the people of the South-East geopolitical zone.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who briefed the press about the development at  the state’s secretariat on Thursday,  stated that 39 other persons  were under observation and receiving treatment  at public and private health facilities in Isolo.

 Cholera is an acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting caused by a bacteria referred to as vibro cholerae and it is transmitted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with infected faeces.

 Idris, who stated that seven out of the 15 samples taken to the Public Health Laboratory, Yaba,  after an upsurge of diarrhoea cases was reported in some communities in Isolo, tested positive to vibro cholerae.

He stated, “Six deaths were recorded among the 45 cases. Majority of the patients did not present with the classical rice-water stool, rather they presented with atypical diarrhoea and vomiting.

“After a thorough analysis of the  ano-rectal swabs that were collected from 15 cases,  vibrio cholerae was confirmed  and found to be the Ogawa strain of the virus.

 “Twenty-two of the 26 that  were  being managed at the Isolo General Hospital and the Lagos Mainland Hospital have been discharged, one  died, while three are still on admission at the Lagos Mainland Hospital. The three patients are still on admission but they are in stable condition.”

 The commissioner noted that water and food analysis done at the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory showed that Abacha, a local salad,  that was eaten by many of the victims, was the source of the infection.

Idris said, “The main suspected source of infection is the salad called Abacha, a staple food  that is consumed regularly in the area. Samples of the local salad and the well water they consume in the area revealed the presence of vibrio cholerae, Salmonella species and E.coli in Abacha and the water sample taken from one of the two wells in the area.”