Suspected cholera disease outbreak is currently ravaging communities in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that communities affected by the outbreak include Igbedor, Nzam, Umuenwenum Anam and Ode.
Breakdown of the death so far showed that three persons died in Umuenwelum, two in Ode community, three in Nzam and nine persons in Igbedor.
Though the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike, has dismissed the news of the outbreak as mere speculation, 17 persons have reportedly died of the disease.
The commissioner said that the disease affecting the area was rather caused by the recent flood disaster that submerged most buildings and farmlands in the area.
He regretted that residents instead of accessing proper health facilities were seeking solution through traditional means like herbalists.
Akabuike who visited the area with some officials of the ministry said: “What we have in Anambra West is not cholera outbreak as being speculated.
“What we have is diarrhea disease that usually occurs after flooding, characterised by vomiting and other signs but what is important to us is not necessarily the name but the worry that people are dying.”
Akabuike explained that the issue at stake is a pure environmental challenge, saying: “I am here with a complete team and lots of drug.
“Governor Willie Obiano had approved money to ensure the situation was arrested to prevent further deaths,” he said.
The commissioner while urging residents of the area to always maintain personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly observed that the deaths occurred because they seek solution from the wrong source.
He further said that effort would be made to ensure that more drugs are sent to them effected communities as well as immediate construction of a borehole to solve their water needs.
But, a community leader in one of the communities, Cyprian Akpofe, maintained that the community experienced cholera at about this time of the year, annually.
“It’s pure cholera because all those that died exhibited all symptoms of cholera before they died. It’s pure cholera. It happens here annually,” he insisted.