EDIS Number: BH-20140721-44617-NGA
Date / time: 21/07/2014 10:55:17 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: Africa
Country: Nigeria
State/County: State of Kano
Location: [Statewide]
Number of Deads: 16 person(s)
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: 701 person(s)
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A
Description:
Six people have been killed and many others infected due to an outbreak of cholera in Nigeria's northern state of Kano, the country's health commissioner says. "Six people died out of the 46 cases recorded," Abubakar Labaran Yusuf said on Sunday. According to Yusuf, the most likely cause of the disease was the contaminated water in the region. A local medical charity, however, claimed that the death toll is higher. "We have recorded 16 deaths from the cholera outbreak in the past six days, which has so far infected 701 people with 20 severe cases," Surajo Alkassim of ISMA Medicare Initiatives said. "The outbreak is becoming a pandemic in the area because patients are trooping from neighboring villages, which is putting a strain on our team and medical supplies," Alkassim warned. Cholera is a severe infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which primarily affects the small intestine. The fast-moving infection causes diarrhea in victims, leading to severe dehydration and possible death. Contaminated food or water helps the spread of the disease. It occurs in places with poor sanitation. The disease, which mostly affects children, is treatable if detected in time. However, it can be fatal if not treated timely by rehydrating and administering antibiotics.
