From Tony John, Port Harcourt
A suspected cholera outbreak has occurred in Isiodum community in Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, killing three persons.
The victims were Mr. Michael Agba, Mrs. Abigail Rowland, and Mrs. Ekenere Awaji Loveday, while Mrs. Amos Asitor is in critical condition.
The incident was confirmed by Dr. Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, a media practitioner and former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area.
He 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 (Friday), two people from the same compound in Isiodum community in Andoni Local Government Area, named Mr. Michael Agba and Mrs. Abigail Rowland, died from constant vomiting and stooling.
“As the battle to resuscitate others attacked by the same disease continues, this morning, January 11, 2025, Mrs. Ekenere Awaji Loveday has just been reported dead.
“Others, including Mrs. Amos Asitor, are in a very critical condition as access to medical attention in the area is nearly impossible.
“Isiodum is one of the ancient communities in Andoni close to Unyeada Town, its ancestral home. It is one of the neglected communities in Andoni without good drinking water.”
Isaiah appealed to relevant agencies to urgently come to their rescue as the inhabitants of the community “are on the verge of deserting the community for safety. Credible sources from the area confirmed the situation is deteriorating hourly.”
Meanwhile, the state Ministry of Health is yet to confirm the report.
An aide to the Commissioner of Health told journalists that a team from the ministry needs to visit the community and take samples before the Ministry of Health can make public the cause of the deaths.