7 died of cholera in Enugu – Commissioner

The Enugu State Ministry of Health has confirmed that there was a cholera outbreak in New Artisan Market, Enugu, which caused the death of seven people in the market with 19 sick persons identified with the symptoms of stooling and vomiting.

Confirming the Cholera outbreak in the market, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, said the ministry’s rapid response team, upon receiving reports of the incident conducted an immediate investigation and “it was observed that the patients presented with sudden onset of passage of loose stool and vomiting.”

Obi further explained that “the ill persons identified within the area were immediately and safely evacuated to the state teaching hospital and are receiving treatment, while health education on safe and hygienic practices were given to the inhabitants of the market.”

The Health Commissioner also said, “Further tests carried out by the State Ministry of Health at the Teaching Hospital revealed that all the persons were suffering from cholera.