Cholera – Nigeria
- October 7, 2021
- < 1 min read
Adamawa, Nigeria sees 20 deaths and 16 hospitalizations from cholera outbreak.
Sixteen people are receiving medical treatment at the Numan General Hospital and Gbalang Dispensary and are members of the Gbalang community. 1 of the deceased was from Numan LGA.
Local health officials are implementing health practices such as the usage of Aqua tabs and are spreading awareness on hygiene practices. They have also been able to get NGOs to help in affected communities.
Photo: Vibrio tasmaniensis bacteria, a close relative of Vibrio cholerae.
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The main risk is severe dehydration, this happens sometimes within hours.
It is spread mostly by unsafe water and unsafe food that has been contaminated with human feces containing the bacteria. Under-cooked seafood is a common source.
Risk factors for the disease include poor sanitation, not enough clean drinking water, and poverty.
Cholera affects an estimated 3–5 million people worldwide and causes 28.800–130.000 deaths a year. Areas with ongoing risk include Africa and South East Asia, where it occurs in outbreaks.
Descriptions of cholera are found as early as the 5th century BC in Sanskrit.
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