Over 20 Persons Feared Dead In Nigerian Community In Cross River Over Cholera Outbreak

As many as 20 persons have been feared dead in Cross River State.

The victims reportedly died following an outbreak of cholera disease in Ekureku community in the Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Ekureku, made up 12 villages, shares boundary with some parts of Ebonyi State and is an agrarian community.

Investigations by Daily Sun revealed that the Ekureku community had been faced with the challenges of potable drinking water and poor health facilities.

Sources close to the community said that the outbreak of the cholera disease was noticed two days ago when some villagers started feeling severe diarrhoea and dehydration.

The source said, at first they thought it was the usual disease that they normally witnessed during dry seasons, only to discover that this time, another disease was spreading very fast and was killing the affected persons within few minutes of passing out watery stool.

A village head, who does not want to be quoted, said, as of the time of filing this report, over 20 persons had allegedly died of cholera disease across the villages.

According to the village head, the communities have sent out save-our-soul messages to officials in the state health sector to come and salvage the situation.

He disclosed that officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation had also been briefed and could be visiting Ekureku for remedial measures.