The Delta State government announced on Tuesday that the state has reported 150 cholera cases and seven deaths since the disease outbreak began.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, provided the update in Asaba, the state capital. He said, “The first outbreak started in mid-February.

The state has recorded about 138 cases in Warri South-West, which is the LGA where it started. We had 11 suspected cases in Bomadi and one in Oshimili South. So far, seven persons, mainly children, have lost their lives.”

Dr. Onojaeme added that efforts have been made to control the disease. “We have been able to curtail the disease in the state. The Disease Surveillance and Monitoring officers have been able to do a lot of advocacy for the people and educate them about the cause of the disease.”

He explained, “It is a disease of poor sanitary environment. We have educated them about simple hand washing. The Ministry of Health has provided tablets to purify some of these waters and so far, for about six weeks now, especially in Warri South West where there was an outbreak. We had only 20 suspected cases and the majority of the cases had been treated and are under control.”

Dr. Onojaeme also noted that the male-to-female ratio of the casualties was 3:1. “The casualties were recorded in the first outbreak, while the second and third outbreaks are under control by the state Ministry of Health,” he said.

The commissioner highlighted that the disease is more common in villages near water banks. He listed high-risk LGAs as Warri South West, Warri North, Warri South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Patani, Bomadi, and Burutu.