Three die in Rivers cholera outbreak

Three persons are feared dead in a suspected cholera outbreak in the Isiodum community of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the incident was discovered when a team from a multinational oil company visited the community to inspect a water rehabilitation project in the area.

A former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Dr Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, who said he was with the oil firm working on the water rehabilitation project in the area, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.

Isaiah said two of the three victims were from the same compound in the Isiodum community.

He said the duo were vomiting and shooting constantly before passing out, leading to their demise on Friday, while the third person died on Saturday.

Isaiah said, “I was in my community, Unyeada, this morning with a team of engineers from Bopean Totalelf to inspect the ongoing water rehabilitation project in Unyeada Town when the news of a suspected cholera outbreak in Isiodum got to me.

“Last night two people from the same compound of Isiodum community in Andoni local government Area named, Mr Micheal Agba and Mrs Abigail Rowland died through constant vomiting and stooling,

“As the battle to resuscitate others who are also attacked by the same disease continues, this morning, January 11th, 2025, one Mrs EkenereAwaji Loveday has just been reported dead. Others including Mrs. Amos Asitor are in a very critical condition as means to access medical attention in the area is nearly impossible.”

When contacted, media aide to the State Commissioner for Health, Ednah Alete, said she had yet to get a report of the incident, stating that she had sent the information to the Head of Disease Control in the state Ministry of Health and was awaiting response.

She, however, said the process of confirming an outbreak of the disease was procedural, including a team from the ministry visiting the community to take samples.