No fewer than twelve persons have died as a result of the outbreak of cholera which ravaged four local government areas of Adamawa State.
Confirming the outbreak at a media briefing in Yola, Health Commissioner Felix Tangwami revealed that over 300 persons were hospitalised and 244 were lready discharged.
Adamawa state has joined states affected by the cholera outbreak in the country. This is attributed to the flooding of communities and poor hygiene among others.
Recently, the state government announced that the four local government areas of Yola North, Yola South, Girei and Fufore were infected by what it described as acute watery diarrhoea.
Thirty samples were collected and sent to the national reference laboratory to ascertain the causes of the infection, while victims were isolated at the Infectious Disease Centre at the specialist hospital, Yola.
Speaking to the media shortly after a meeting of critical healthcare providers gave more insights on the outbreak, Tangwami revealed that the UNICEF health officer in the state, Olusheyi Oloshide said that cholera vaccines have been received in the state to assist in containing the outbreak.
The confirmation of the outbreak becomes necessary following earlier announcements that the recent outbreak was acute watery diarrhoea and not cholera as earlier suspected.
Already the state has received cholera vaccines from their partners.
The government has, however, called on the public to remain calm and improve their hygiene.
Tangwami said surveillance officers have been deployed to educate the public to prevent its spread to other local government areas in the state.
