Jigawa State Government says cholera epidemic has claimed over 100 lives in different local governments of the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr Salisu Mu’azu disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse the state capital.
He explained that, over 5,000 cases were recorded in the State and presently 250 patients were currently on admission in different hospitals as a result of the outbreak in 10 out of the 27 local government areas in the state.
Dr. Salisu Mu’azu attributed the outbreak to rampant use of contaminated water, vegetables in addition to poor personal hygiene.
He noted that the disease had spread in 19 local government areas from nine some few weeks back.
Dr Salisu stated that the State government with support from UNICEF and Lafiya programme formed a rapid response team dispersed across three zones in the state.
According to him,the state government has opened isolation units in Hadejia, Gwaram and other worse hit areas.
Dr. Salisu further explained that the state government had also embarked on training surveillance, community awareness, establishment of treatment centres and spraying the communities.
When Radio Nigeria visited Zareku town in Miga local government, reports say between Friday night to Saturday, eight people died as a result of cholera.
Confirming the incident, a medical staff in Zareku primary healthcare centre explained that the incident started on Thursday night and persisted till Friday when five people died on the same day.
He said they recorded the death of eight people, seven female and one male whom died as a result of cholera diseases in the town of Zareku.
USMAN MZ