Lassa fever, Cholera kill 14 in Bauchi

IT has been confirmed that no fewer than 14 people have died in Bauchi following the outbreak of Cholera and Lassa fever in the state.

The disclosure was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Zuwaira Hassan while briefing Journalists in Bauchi Saturday.

According to her, 9 people died as a result of Cholera outbreak while 5 died of Lassa fever revealing that in all, 324 cases of cholera were recorded while 26 of the patients are presently on admission at the isolated centre of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.

She said that a female student of College of Education, Kangere was among the 9 victims of the Cholera outbreak saying that “the causes of the outbreak in the institution was as a result of sewage evacuation”.

The Commissioner further attributed the causes of the cholera outbreak to open defecation by residents of the state saying, “it’s unfortunate that our people defecate outside and the faeces pass through their drinking water while they don’t practice personal hygiene”.

“In order to prevent more outbreak, community volunteers have been going round to educate and sensitise the people and the Ministry of Health has chlorinated their water,” she said.

According to the Commissioner, 5 Local government were affected by the Cholera outbreak and they are Bauchi, Toro, Darazo, Tafawa Balewa and Ganjuwa.

On the outbreak of Lassa Fever, Dr Zuwaira said 44 cases were recorded while 5 people have been confirmed dead pointing out that the affected patients are 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.