By Jerry Omondi
20 people are suspected to have died of cholera in southern Nigeria’s Cross River state, local Premium Times reports.
Some ten villages have been affected this week, prompting health authorities to bolster surveillance in the region.
The Permanent Secretary at the Cross River Ministry of Health, Iwara Iwara, confirmed the cholera outbreak, but did not issue an official number of resulting deaths.
A village head however said up to 20 peopla may have died of the deadly disease.
“As at Saturday, more than 20 persons have died because of suspected cholera across the 10 villages,” Premium Times quotes the unnamed village head.
Iwara gave assurances that the state government had activated a rapid health response team to tackle the outbreak.
Nigeria has been troubled by cholera outbreaks this year, some attributed to resultant floods in part sof the country following heavy rainfall.
According to reports, Borno State recorded some 5,000 cases with 178 associated deaths across 13 local government areas.
