‘Bacterial infection, not cholera, killed 3 in Mpape’

Health authorities in the Bwari Area Council have identified the outbreak of diseases in Mpape which allegedly killed three residents as ‘bacterial or viral infections’ and not cholera.

The Head, Health Department of the Area Council, Dr. Sunday Goji, told City News via telephone conversation that the department confirmed the disease as not cholera having received the clinical result of the laboratory investigation carried out in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada yesterday.

“For now we cannot say (what the disease is) but it could be either bacteria or viral infections. The purpose was to investigate whether it was a cholera microorganism, but there was no microorganism isolated from the specimen that we sent,” Goji said.

The minister was there today, and we went to those ports and there are plans to fumigate those gutters, the minister flagged it off today.

He however said the department will continue already initiated sensitisation process, “that is why most of the people are coming to the health facility even those cases that are not qualified for an outbreak but there is enough sensitisation.”

He added that the environmental department is making effort to provide the residents with cellophane bags so that those wastes are properly packaged and disposed appropriately.

“We will advise them to observe their personal hygiene as well as keep the environment clean. Aside diarrhea and vomiting even those drainages are breeding mosquitoes especially when the water is stagnant,” he said.

Some residents have however expressed shock over the result wondering what could have been responsible for the deaths recorded and general vomiting and diarrhea experienced in the community.

Abubakar Musa, a resident, said the government should face the situation and not try cover up the incidence by calling it names, “What else could be responsible for these deaths?”