29th August, 2011
An outbreak of a disease suspected to be cholera has killed seven persons out of some 189 cases reported since June this year in Lafia.
Aishatu Yahaya, Chief Community Health Officer in-charge of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinic at Mana in Lafia confirmed the development on Sunday while speaking with newsmen.
Yahaya, who noted that the figures represented the statistics collated by the clinic since it recorded the first case earlier in June, said that seven persons had been killed by the disease.
She said that “the majority of reported cases were from Makama and Ciroma Wards with few others from Gayam Ward all in Lafia Local Government Area.â€
Yahaya advised residents to be cautious as most of the recent cases reported in the area were due to contact with people who were already infected with the disease.
Reacting to the situation, Jamila Dalhatu, the Director of PHC in Lafia Local Government Area, said the poor sanitary condition of the areas where the disease broke out, was responsible for the spread of the disease.
She said the Local Government had turned the Primary Health Care Clinic at Mana into a transit camp for people infected.
When contacted for comments on the outbreak, Gamaliel Monday, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Health, declined comments, saying he was yet to get detailed report.