Cholera Outbreak In Bakassi : Six Deaths, 34 Cases Being Treated

Emergency measures are underway to circumscribe, treat and prevent the cholera outbreak that has hit Idabato, one of the five Sub-Divisions that make up the Bakassi Peninsular in Ndian Division of the South West Region.

The epidemic began showing its ugly head by the 12 of November when many cases of running stomach, vomiting and generalized weakness were received in the local Health Centre. Regional authorities were alerted and on 20 November, the South West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Ebongo Zacks Nanje, mobilized to the creek area with primary assistance to the people of Idabato.

Going by information from the Regional Delegate of Public Health, environmental hygiene is very poor in the area. Though the people live along the sea, portable water is rare to find. The culture of good toilets is absent. The local health centre is inadequate to withstand any epidemic outbreak. All of these compound to make the area prone to epidemics. The Regional Delegate of Public Health said two cases were also detected in Isangele and Ekondo Titi “We intend to create an alert and treatment centre in neighbouring Districts of Limbe, Tiko, Ekondo Titi, so that if such cases have migrated there, they could be easily attended to” the Regional Delegate explained.

The current situation at Idabato, Bakassi Health District is that of an epidemic. It is alleged that someone of about 70 years old from the fishing community from Nigeria took ill and died, and the corpse was transported to Nigeria. After that incident, other people started observing signs and symptoms of cholera. Nine cases were reported among which two persons died, a 70-year-old and a 12-year boy. Two samples were collected to Douala where it turned out positive for vibrio cholera germ and this by World Health Organisation standards is enough to declare an epidemic.

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