Cholera outbreak: FG cautions Nigerians against locally made kunu, zobo, tiger nuts

By allcitynews.ng

As cholera outbreak has continue to spread despite Federal and Lagos State Government’s effort to tame it, both federal and Lagos State have appealed to everyone to refrain from consumption of locally made drinks for now.

The warning, according to Lagos State Government, is based on evidences obtained from those infected as almost 99% of them confessed to have taken the local drinks before the problem began.

The Minister of State for Environment,
Iziaq Salako, gave the recommendation in a statement released in Abuja on Monday, June 24.

As other steps to prevent the spread, Salako urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures, including maintaining a clean environment and properly disposing of waste in designated areas.

“Ensure the use of clean and safe water. Water from suspicious sources should be well boiled or treated by adding one pack of chlorine solution to 100 parts.

“Avoid locally prepared drinks like kunu, zobo, tiger nuts, fura da nono, koko, fruit juice among others except it is certain that the preparation was done in a hygienic and safe manner.

According to him,
“Wash hands regularly with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, cleaning a child who has gone to the toilet, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after playing with animals.”

LASG the only state that is showing more commitment in tackling it

Likewise, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has called on all to strictly follow measures to prevent the spread of the cholera outbreak in the State. This call follows an excess of severe gastroenteritis cases reported in Lagos in the last 48 hours.

Furthermore, Abayomi disclosed that cases of severe gastroenteritis have been reported in communities around Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Kosofe LGA, resulting in about 60 hospital admissions, and sadly five deaths have been recorded mainly from patients presenting late with extreme dehydration.

“We have activated a statewide heightened surveillance and response. The Ministry of Health Directorate of Environmental Health and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been alerted to investigate a possible water contamination source in the Lekki Victoria Island axis. We suspect a possible cholera outbreak; however, samples have been taken for confirmation.”