Nigeria: Kano State has reported 71 cholera deaths since November

Since the first cholera cases appeared in the northern Nigerian state of Kano, health officials have reported no less than 71 fatalities due to the bacterial disease, according to a This Day Live report Friday.

According to the report:

The Project Director of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor AbdulSalam Nasidi  disclosed on Friday that no fewer than 71 people have   died since the first cases of outbreak of Cholera reported on November 6th, 2013 in Kano state.

Professor AbdulSalam Nasidi said that a total of 2165 cases were recorded from 22 local government areas of Kano state, adding that Fagge local government area recorded highest number of death with 12 lives lost.

Vibrio cholerae
Image/CDC/ Janice Carr

Cholera (Vibrio cholerae) is an acute bacterial intestinal disease characterized by sudden onset, profuse watery stools (given the appearance as rice water stools because of flecks of mucus in water) due to a very potent enterotoxin. The enterotoxin leads to an extreme loss of fluid and electrolytes in the production of diarrhea. It has been noted that an untreated patient can lose his bodyweight in fluids in hours resulting in shock and death.

The bacteria are acquired through ingestion of contaminated water or food through a number of mechanisms. Water is usually contaminated by the feces of infected individuals. Drinking water can be contaminated at the source, during transport or during storage at home. Food can get contaminated by soiled hands, during preparation or while eating.

Beverages and ice prepared with contaminated water and fruits and vegetables washed with this water are other examples. Some outbreaks are linked to raw or undercooked seafood.

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