WHO warns cholera outbreak could worsen with rains []]]VIDEO]

The World Health Organisation has warned the ongoing cholera outbreak in parts of the country could get worse with the rains, if they are not quickly contained. Acting country representative of WHO in Nigeria, Dr Rex Mpazanje said the main challenge to the response is the start of rains coinciding with the outbreaks. It comes […]

The World Health Organisation has warned the ongoing cholera outbreak in parts of the country could get worse with the rains, if they are not quickly contained.

Acting country representative of WHO in Nigeria, Dr Rex Mpazanje said the main challenge to the response is the start of rains coinciding with the outbreaks.

It comes as number of reported infections in Adamawa’s cholera outbreak continue to rise—from 434 on May 26 to 834 by May end in two local government areas alone.

Outbreaks have also been reported in Bauchi, Yobe, Kaduna.

 “This outbreak  has started right at the beginning of the rainy season,” he said.

“We expect that as the rainy season proceeds, there will be other outbreaks.”

Even more rains might make the outbreaks “difficult to contain”, said Mpazanje.

 “We learnt from similar outbreaks last year in Borno and Yobe. We are employing the lessons learnt from there to try to do those things that are necessary to quickly contain this one so that it doesn’t get to that level where we are unable to contain it with the rainy season peaking.”

WHO has helped set up initial treatment centres, now run by Doctors Without Borders.

With its coordination, Adamawa state health officials are visiting areas where outbreaks have been reported to profile the epidemic and assess locations and numbers of reported infections.

They are also having coordination meetings with Cameroonian health authorities to determine the source of the outbreak and how it is moving through the country.

In addition, health sector partners working to contain the outbreak are providing treatment, chlorinating water sources and communicating measures of hygiene to prevent further outbreaks.

Some 39 staff of WHO have deployed to the Adamawa health ministry to help trace relatives who might have been in contact with individuals who have showed signs of infection.

They are also tracing possible sites of infection, including water sources and toilets.