Nigeria struggles with fears of Cholera outbreak

The health authorities in Anambra, Nigeria have expressed concern and fear over a possible cholera outbreak and other infectious diseases

The health authorities in Anambra, the flood-hit area of Southern Nigeria, have expressed concern and fear over a possible cholera outbreak and other infectious diseases in the state. This fear has emerged following the devastating floods that have affected the region recently.

The head of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Chioma Ezenyimulu, spoke at a press briefing on Thursday, October 20, 2022, and expressed this fear.

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He stated that the disastrous floods affecting seven out of 21 local government areas of the state. This has heightened fears of a possible outbreak of cholera and other diseases.

According to Ezenyimulu, health authorities are worried that the state might witness an outbreak cholera and other infectious diseases with the devastating flood disaster.

Following the press briefing, the health official urged the public to observe good hygiene and keep their surroundings clean to avoid the possibility of an outbreak.

Cholera is a highly virulent disease. In its most severe form, the condition is characterized by the sudden onset of acute watery diarrhoea, which can lead to death by severe dehydration.

Several parts of Nigeria have been hit hard by floods during the rainy season.

During the floods, there were at least 603 people killed. Additionally, more than 1.3 million people displaced by flood disasters. Sadiya Farouq, the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, shared these statistics at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday.

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The neighboring nation of Cameroon, which shares a border with Nigeria, has already recorded several cholera infections in many of its regions.

So far, the cholera outbreak has killed at least 17 people. Within a week of the cholera outbreak, an unknown number of people are still feared dead in difficult-to-access areas of the nation.

These statistics have also sparked fear in the Nigerian Health authorities owing to the critical flood conditions.

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