Cholera kills 46 Nigerians
2005-02-28 15:22
Lagos - Forty-six people have died and over 100 have been hospitalised following an outbreak of cholera in the southwestern Nigerian state of Oyo, state health ministry spokesperson Lekan Kolade said on Monday.
The epidemic broke out two weeks ago at Kusa, 50km from Ibadan, the state capital, he said.
"Our record shows 46 people have died of cholera in Kusa and more than 100 are in the hospital," he said.
He said the outbreak had now been brought under control after the Oyo State government immediately sent health officials and drugs to Kusa and surrounding villages and towns.
Kolade said the epidemic was caused by contaminated water. Kusa villagers depend on streams and open wells for drinking water, but the spokesperson said the government has now promised to construct bore-hole wells in the area.
Cholera is a waterborne disease which causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting and can be fatal if not treated.
Last week, 15 people died and five were hospitalised during an outbreak of cholera in two communities in the southeastern Nigerian state of Anambra.