PATHETIC: Cholera Claim Lives In Benue State, Nigeria

The Benue Government on Friday said that the cholera outbreak recorded in the state a few days ago has claimed eight lives.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services in
the state, Orduen Abunku, made the announcement
while speaking to journalists in Makurdi, the state
capital.

Mr. Abunku said that 240 people had been diagnosed
with the disease and were currently being treated. A
community in the state, Wadata, had witnessed an
outbreak of the disease.

"A total of 240 cases have been reported while eight
deaths have been recorded so far," the commissioner
had stated.

He said efforts by the State Government to tackle the
disease are yielding results. He said the disease was
gradually being checked with few cases now reported.
"We are collaborating with all the relevant agencies to
mitigate the spread of the disease.

"The World Health Organisation, the Federal Ministry
of Health and other organisations have visited the
affected area to ascertain the exact situation."

"Cholera is a deadly disease that needs urgent
treatment to avoid death. "There are several attempts
to develop vaccines which can cure the ailment but
such vaccines are not too effective.

"So, the best way to prevent deaths that can be
caused by cholera is by preventing it." Mr. Abunku
advised residents of the state to improve their personal
hygiene, to mitigate the spread of the disease.

He said that people should cultivate habit of eating
hot food and using clean water in their daily chores.