14 August 2018•Update: 14 August 2018
By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria
A cholera outbreak killed at least seven people in the Nigerian capital Abuja over the past few days, an official said.
“So far, there been seven deaths from across six communities here in Abuja while efforts are on to reverse the trend,” Humphrey Okoroukwu, head of the Health Department in the capital, told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.
In a news briefing on Monday, had said the health workers have been dispatched to various communities to teach locals on how to manage the outbreak.
Eight deaths and 20 cholera admissions were also reported in a local government area of northwest Kano state during the weekend, said Kabir Bayero, a tribal chief in Gwarzo area.
Last week, Punch, a local newspaper, reported 11 people died of cholera in the same northwestern state, quoting local officials.
In July, the country's Center for Disease Control (CDC) put toll from the latest cholera outbreak at 116 across 12 states. The report said at least 13,006 cases have been reported in hospitals.
Cholera is a yearly phenomenon in many parts of Nigeria largely because of water system and improper hygiene in hugely populated areas.
