The Rivers State Government has confirmed the deaths of nine persons following a suspected cholera outbreak in two of its local government areas in the state. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, made the disclosure this afternoon during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the River state capital. Oreh identified the affected LGAs to be Andoni, where three deaths were recorded, and Akuku-Toru, where other six suffered fatalities.
Accordingly, she stated that recently the state has recorded about 41 suspected cases in the mentioned two LGAs, although, revealed that the state authority has swung into action towards containing the outbreak.
The commissioner added that although the Ministry of Health has not fully concluded weather the deaths were resulting from the suspected cholera, but the symptoms align as unveiled by the surveillance case definition of the disease is pointing towards such.
“With the deepest sympathy to the victims, we are investigating a suspected outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea caused by cholera in Isiodun community of Andoni LGA. The symptoms reported are consistent with cholera,” she said.
Explaining, she said, cholera, a disease caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, thrives in areas with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. The disease is transmitted through consuming contaminated water or food and contact with infected surfaces.
She noted that Rivers State being a river-run area is prone to recurrent outbreaks of such acute watery diarrhoea and cholera during the dry season, which poses significant public health challenges due to high morbidity and mortality rates.
“As of January 13, 2025, we recorded 41 suspected cases in Andoni and Akuku-Toru LGAs, with nine associated deaths. Three deaths occurred in Andoni, while six were reported in Akuku-Toru,” she said.
She stated that the outbreak was first reported to the ministry’s attention after three deaths were recorded within 48 hours in Isiodun community on January 11.
In response, she said that the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with partners and the Andoni LGA authorities, has activated emergency response measures to tackle the outbreak.
The commissioner disclosed that in the meantime, the state rapid response team, led by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, has been deployed to the affected areas to keep close tab.
The team has activated all its surveillance mechanism as well as strengthened its case detection in health facilities, at the same time has provided essential supplies to the communities. This includes the distribution of oral rehydration solutions, intravenous fluids, and essential medicines to health centres.
Meanwhile, she has urged the residents to adopt preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease.
