We have been informed of pockets of Cholera outbreak in some states of the Northern Nigerian including Taraba, Kaduna and Benue. The involvement of Niger state is yet to be confirmed.
Kindly, as a matter of urgency disseminate the information below on Cholera to all your colleagues nationwide, especially those residing in the Northern zones, to get them aware of the precautions to take to avoid getting infected with this organism.
CHOLERA
What are cholera symptoms?
- profuse watery diarrhea,
- vomiting, and
- leg cramps.
In these persons, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.
How does a person get cholera?
A person may get cholera by:
Ø drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium.
Ø In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces (stool) of an infected person.
Ø The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.
The cholera bacterium may also live in the environment in brackish rivers and coastal waters. Shellfish eaten raw or undercooked have been a source of cholera. The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill.
All travelers to areas where cholera has occurred should observe the following recommendations:
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Drink only water that you have boiled or treated with chlorine or iodine. Other safe beverages include tea and coffee made with boiled water and carbonated, bottled beverages with no ice.
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Eat only foods that have been thoroughly cooked and are still hot, or fruit that you have peeled yourself.
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Avoid undercooked or raw fish or shellfish, including snails.
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Make sure all vegetables are cooked, avoid salads.
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Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors.
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Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before meals.
A simple rule of thumb is "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it."
At publication time there is none yet available in Nigeria but some pharmaceutical companies are in the process of obtaining one.
Can cholera be treated?
Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea. Patients can be treated with oral rehydration solution, a prepackaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. This solution is used throughout the world to treat diarrhea. Severe cases also require intravenous fluid replacement.
With prompt rehydration, fewer than 1% of cholera patients die.
Antibiotics shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important as rehydration. Persons who develop severe diarrhea and vomiting in countries where cholera occurs should seek medical attention promptly.
IF YOU SUSPECT A CASE OF CHOLERA IN YOUR ORGANIZATION, RUSH THE PATIENT TO THE NEAREST NETWORK HOSPITAL AND INFORM THE THT CALL CENTRE (014482105, 014482106, 01-7747150, 01-8045263, 07090858202) AND ZONAL REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY!!!
