Cholera Outbreak Claims 20 Lives, Affects 150 in Delta State

Cholera has devastated communities in Delta State, resulting in 20 deaths and affecting 150 others. Residents attribute the outbreak to the lack of potable water in the affected areas, particularly in Bomadi and Burutu local government areas. The situation has prompted calls for the state government to complete a multi-million naira water scheme, which has been abandoned. As a result, many, especially children, have been affected, and residents have turned to dirty water sources from the Forcados river, wells, and ponds. Government authorities have expressed concern over the outbreak, which comes as the state continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic and a recent yellow fever outbreak.

Key Takeaways:

• The cholera outbreak has claimed 20 lives in Delta State, with 150 others affected.
• The disease is prevalent in Bomadi and Burutu local government areas, where residents rely on the Forcados river, wells, and ponds for drinking water.
• The state government has constructed a multi-million naira water scheme in the affected areas, but it remains abandoned, exacerbating the crisis.
• Several residents, including children, have been affected by the water-borne disease due to the lack of potable water.
• The health ministry attributed the outbreak to poor hygiene among residents, including drinking water with high iron content and polluted by poor sanitary habits.
• Local residents blamed the state government for not completing the water scheme, which they claim is the root cause of the outbreak.
• The outbreak has prompted government authorities to express concern, with a team of officials from the state ministry of health and Primary Healthcare Development Agency working to bring the situation under control.

Statistics:

• 20 lives have been lost to the cholera outbreak in Delta State.
• 150 people are affected by the disease.
• 7 out of 150 cases recorded on January 16, 2021, are confirmed to have died.
• The cholera outbreak has affected several communities in Bomadi local government area, including Tuomo, Tamigbe, and Gberegolor.
• Over 70% of the affected communities rely on the Forcados river, wells, and ponds for drinking water.

Sources:

• Businessday News: "Cholera Outbreak Claims 20 Lives, Affects 150 in Delta State"
• Minister of Health, Ononye Mordi: "The cholera outbreak was attributed to poor hygiene among residents..."
• Resident Charles Ebiye: "Here in Bomadi, we drink from this river because that is the only source of water..."