HEALTH: Cholera Claims Lives In Benue State

The Benue Government on Friday said that the cholera outbreak recorded in the state a few days ago has claimed eight lives.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services in the state, Orduen Abunku, made the announcement while speaking to journalists in Makurdi, the state capital.

Mr. Abunku said that 240 people had been diagnosed with the disease and were currently being treated. A community in the state, Wadata, had witnessed an outbreak of the disease.

"A total of 240 cases have been reported while eight deaths have been recorded so far," the commissioner had stated.

He said efforts by the State Government to tackle the disease are yielding results. He said the disease was gradually being checked with few cases now reported. "We are collaborating with all the relevant agencies to mitigate the spread of the disease.

"The World Health Organisation, the Federal Ministry of Health and other organisations have visited the affected area to ascertain the exact situation."

"Cholera is a deadly disease that needs urgent treatment to avoid death. "There are several attempts to develop vaccines which can cure the ailment but such vaccines are not too effective.

"So, the best way to prevent deaths that can be caused by cholera is by preventing it." Mr. Abunku advised residents of the state to improve their personal hygiene, to mitigate the spread of the disease.

He said that people should cultivate habit of eating hot food and using clean water in their daily chores.