Gombe uncovers 77 gastroenteritis cases, says 48 tested positive to cholera with 4 deaths
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
No fewer than 4 patients have died from cholera, out of 48 who tested positive to cholera from 77 gastroenteritis cases, says Dr. Habu Dahiru, Gombe State Commissioner for Health.
Disclosing this on Tuesday, during a news briefing with Journalists in Gombe, Dahiru placed three settlements in the state capital on red alert namely; Shamaki, Bolari-East and Herwagana wards of Gombe LGA.
Recall that the state had within first and second quarter announced cholera outbreak in Yalmatu Deba and Akko LGA’s with 178 persons treated and discharged and two children reportedly dead.
He noted that water collected from the well should be filtered, vegetables treated with salt water or vinegar, adding that the ministry is working in collaboration with Ministries of Water Resources and Environment towards mitigating the spread.
Dahiru explained, “We have a total of 77 cases of gastroenteritis and 48 of them have been confirmed to be positive for cholera. Out of the 77 cases, we lost 4 patients from the 48 positive with cholera.
“Cholera is characterized by severe diarrhea and vomiting, and can be rapidly fatal if prompt and urgent actions are not taken towards management of cases and effective infection prevention control. It is easily spread in the community if control measures are sub-optimal.
“With the threshold of confirmed cases reached, I hereby declare an outbreak of cholera in Shamaki, Bolari-East and Herwagana wards of Gombe LGA.
“77 patients have so far been treated and discharged and we recorded four mortalities. From the 12th of June to 6 of August, 2021 over 80 cases of gastroenteritis have been successfully treated across these five local governments in the state.
While lauding the efforts of surveillance team of the Public Health Emergency Operation, Dahiru noted that government has designated temporary treatment and rehydration centre for cholera in Gombe Local Government at the Tuduwada Primary Healthcare Centre, urging residents to ensure clean and hygienic environment.
“Governor of Gombe State, Alh. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has ensured that all the needed resources are provided for free management of cases at the treatment centre and containment of the outbreak have been provided.
“We have been going to households putting chloride in open water, as you are aware so many sources are there. I have activated a multi-sectoral Incident Management System for a prompt and coordinated response to the outbreak.
“I have started going to my Tsangaya (Almajiri) schools here in Gombe to sensitize them on improving their hygiene and to make sure what is served is clean,” he added.
