Ten persons have reportedly died of cholera in Magboro community in Ogun state.
The cholera outbreak in the state was first reported on Friday when a resident of the community, said to be living in an uncompleted building, died.
Tomi Coker, the state commissioner of health, had earlier said the reported outbreak was predominant among commercial motorcycle riders and scavengers.
She said the index case was reported to have returned to the state from elsewhere while the public toilet used was the channel of transmission.
According to NAN, the community leaders have begun a house-to-house search for infected persons. “The first person that died is a woman; two others living with her in an uncompleted building later died on Saturday,” a resident, who identified himself as Solomon, reportedly said.
David Ajayi, the secretary of Magboro community development council, said the deaths could have been averted if those affected reported in time.
“We received the report of suspected cholera outbreak when the deed had already been done. I can confirm the death of two people. One other person is hospitalised.
“Another reported case was about a young girl taking care of her sick mother in a hospital in Asese, she was also confirmed dead.
“Health officials from Abeokuta came on Saturday and Sunday to have an on-the-spot assessment and take samples from affected persons.
“We have been going around since we heard about the outbreak to inspect affected places. What I can confirm is that those places are not hygienic for living.
“We need the help of the government to relocate the destitute living in open places and uncompleted buildings; those places are not hygienic for living at all.”
Collins Anifowose, chairman of the community development association of Cele zone, also said the affected places had been sealed.
“We need to put our house in order to prevent disease outbreaks. As of Sunday, 10 people were reported dead, but it has been difficult to identify them; their names were not given.”
Temitope Oluwalere, a disease surveillance officer in the state, said the Ogun ministry of health was working to tackle the situation.
Oluwalere said samples had been sent to Abeokuta for proper diagnosis and health workers were studying the pattern of the disease.
“We visited the affected area on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I first came on Friday, but when the case was getting out of hand, I had to call the state office,” she said.
“The ministry of health brought in medical and laboratory testing equipment to enable us to diagnose properly if it is a cholera outbreak or not.
“We got one person in an uncompleted building. He was too weak, he was transferred to a community health centre, where he is currently receiving treatment.
“We are still observing those hospitalised. The first suspect is cholera, but we need further diagnosis to establish it.
“We have put all private hospitals in Magboro and environs on red alert to report any case of suspected cholera and take samples.”