Cholera Outbreak: Ebonyi Govt Yet To Ascertain Affected Communities, Persons—-Public Health Director

The Ebonyi government on Friday said it is yet to ascertain the impact of the cholera outbreak that occurred in some communities in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.

Dr Hyacinth Ebenyi, Director of Public Health in the state, said this in an interview  in Abakaliki.

Ebenyi said that the state government was aware of the outbreak but is yet to ascertain the number of affected persons as well as those that have died of the disease.

“We have heard the information, right now, we are going to the communities, until we get there, we will not know the number of persons affected.

“There were reports earlier in November on the outbreak in the area, health personnel in the state Ministry of Health were mobilised; samples were taken and sent to the laboratory, but all the tests were negative for Cholera.

“The report was very clear why the samples returned negative, because they were already on drugs, it could be that the medication have made the disease to submerge.

“Right now, we have heard another outbreak but we are yet to ascertain the impact. The medical team in the ministry is going to the affected community and when we come back, we can tell the impact and if there are any death,” he explained.

On the number of deaths, the Director said there were also reports that some people have died, noting that he would not be able to give the accurate figure.

The Chairman Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, Mr Steven Orogwu, has debunked rumour on social media that about 65 persons have been affected by cholera in the area.

According to Orogwu, only nine persons out of 16 cases have died.