State. Many others are being treated at various
hospitals in Ajeromi, Apapa, Lagos Island,
Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere local government
areas.
Speaking with reporters yesterday,
Commissioner for Health Jide Idris said efforts
were ongoing to curb the spread of the
disease.
He urged residents to ensure high standards of
hygiene at all times and keep their
environment clean.
Idris said: "Although many of the cases have
been treated and discharged in several health
facilities, three have been confirmed dead.
Most of the suspected cases are from Ajeromi,
Apapa, Lagos Island, Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere
local government areas."
He said investigations by his ministry showed
that the suspected cases were contracted from
eating infected food, such as abacha (African
salad), and drinking well water, especially in
Ikare, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government; and
Badia, Apapa Local Government.
The commissioner urged the public to be
vigilant and report any suspected case, dead or
alive, to the nearest health facility and the
directorate of disease control at the State
Ministry of Health.
He said cholera is an acutely contagious
bacterial disease characterised by a sudden
onset of "profuse painless watery stool, nausea
and profuse vomiting".
Idris said cholera is contracted through the
ingestion of contaminated food or water. He
said food and water become contaminated
when they come in contact with the feaces of
infected persons.
He said: "Cholera should be suspected in any
person who develops diarrheoa with or without
vomiting, weakness, restlessness, irritability,
dry mucous membrane, low blood pressure,
leg cramps, excessive loss of body fluid
(dehydration) or dies from frequent stooling,
hence measures should be taken to reduce the
risk of contracting the disease."
To reduce the risk of contracting the disease,
the commissioner urged people to wash their
hands with soaps and water frequently and
thoroughly boil water before drinking if the
source of the water was in doubt; wash fruits
and vegetables thoroughly before eating; cook
food thoroughly before eating; dispose wastes
properly; and keep water containers clean.
The Nation learnt that Sunday Emeka, a
generator repairer at Sijuade Street, Ago, died
in a hospital around 2am on Sunday after
stooling and vomiting continuously.
It was learnt that the late Emeka, who lived
close to the Oke Afa canal in Ago, went out to
watch a football match when he suddenly
started stooling and vomiting.
According to his brother's pregnant wife, who
refused to give her name, the family became
apprehensive when the stooling and vomiting
became continuous.
She said: "We rushed him to the hospital and
were surprised to meet other people there with
similar condition. They asked us to deposit
N20,000 and we dropped N5,000 so that they
could start treating him. They immediately
started giving him drips but he was still
vomiting and stooling until around 2am, when
he died.
"When we saw other patients with similar
symptoms, I asked the doctor what was
happening and he said they were suspecting an
outbreak of cholera, but they had not
confirmed it."
The Nation observed that the environment
where the deceased lived and worked were
untidy.
Drains on Sijuade Street, where his shop is
situated, were blocked and dirty. The sloppy
street is behind Century Market and flood
water from the canal can easily contaminate
wells in the area.
At Femi Killa, it was learnt that about three
people died after eating abacha (African Salad).
An hair stylist, simply identified as Esther, said
they initially thought the abacha was
contaminated until they heard that people who
did not eat abacha were also affected.
She said: "I do not know the names of the
victims but a woman was among them. She
died on Tuesday after eating abacha. They said
she was vomiting and holding her stomach,
and then, she fell on the road and died.
"The other two are boys. They live at Poopola
Street, but I do not know their house. I heard
the police arrested the abacha seller after the
victims' death.
The Nation visited hospitals in Okota, Ejigbo,
Ikotun, Ijesha and Surulere and learnt that
many patients with cholera symptoms had
been admitted in the last one week.
At a particular hospital in Ago, Okota, about 10
pale-looking patients, including two siblings,
were on drips to prevent dehydration.
One of them said she was rushed to the
hospital on Saturday around 5am.
She said: "I did not eat anything. I started
purging and vomiting around 10pm after I saw
my sister doing so too. The last thing I took
that night was sachet water and that is what
we drink in our house. We stay around Pako
Bus Stop, close to the Oke Afa canal.
"When my mother saw that my sister and I
were getting weak, she rushed us to the
hospital and since Saturday, we have been on
admission here. My mum told us that other
people were brought in with similar
symptoms."
Although most doctors at the hospitals visited
said there was a cholera outbreak in the state,
the Medical Director of Ago Medical Centre,
Dr. Kola Afolabi, had a different view.
He said there was an outbreak of
gastroenteritis, which he described as one of
the causes of cholera.
Afolabi said: "Yes, in the past one week,
patients with frequent diarrheoa and vomiting
have been brought to my hospital, but I
cannot say it is cholera because a diagnosis
must be conducted to confirm that it is
cholera. Even on questioning, no patient has
mentioned having rice-water stool.
"Gastroenteritis is one of the symptoms of
cholera, but cholera comes with rice-water
stool. In this case, we have not seen any
patient whose stool has the colour of rice-
water.
"It is caused by both virus and bacteria. The
virus is vibro-cholera and entero-viruses, while
bacteria such as Salmonella and e-coli, among
others, can cause it. People should avoid
unsafe foods and drinks. When they say
cholera is a water-borne disease, it does not
mean it cannot be contracted through food.
"Once a fly perches on faeces, maybe from the
canal, and lands on an uncovered meal, it
could cause cholera. Also, highly congested
areas are bound to suffer it if there is an
outbreak.
"However, we have reported to the local
government and they are looking into it. I am
sure that before the end of this week, they will
take action. Cholera occurs in all age groups
and kills in less than 24 hours, if necessary
actions are not taken.
"People should always boil their water and
preserve well prepared food to avoid
contamination. The first-aid solution is salt
water solution and if it does not stop, they
patient should quickly visit a hospital where
appropriate treatment will be given."
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