By Bello Mohammed
Bauchi
No fewer than 14 people have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of Cholera and Lassa fever in Bauchi State.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Zuwaira Hassan, disclosed this in Bauchi on Friday.
She explained that nine people died as a result of cholera while five died of Lassa fever.
She also said that 324 cases of cholera were recorded while 26 patients were on admission at the isolated centre of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital Bauchi.
According to her, one of the victims was a female student of College of Education Kangere.
“The causes of the outbreak in the institution was as a result of sewage evacuation,” she said.
The commissioner also said another cause of the outbreak was open defecation by residents, sayings, “it’s unfortunate that our people defecate outside and the faeces passes through their drinking water while they don’t practice personal higiene.
“To prevent more outbreak, community volunteers have been going round to educate and sensitize the people and the Ministry of Health has chlorinated their water.”
The commissioner further revealed that five local government areas were affected by the cholera outbreak, which include: Bauchi, Toro, Darazo, Tafawa Balewa and Ganjuwa.
On the outbreak of Lassa Fever, Zuwaira said that 44 cases were recorded while five people had been confirmed dead.
She said that the affected patients were currently receiving treatment at the isolation centre of ATBUTH Bauchi.
The commissioner thereby commended the federal government for its quick intervention to support Bauchi State government in tackling the outbreak.
