Three individuals are feared dead following a suspected cholera outbreak in the Isiodum community of Andoni Local Government Area in Rivers State.
The outbreak was discovered when a team from a multinational oil company visited the community to inspect a water rehabilitation project.
A former Chairman of Andoni LGA, Dr. Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Saturday.
Isaiah, who was working with the oil company on the project in the area, reported that two of the victims were from the same compound in Isiodum.
According to Isaiah, the two victims, Mr. Micheal Agba and Mrs. Abigail Rowland, were experiencing severe vomiting and diarrhea before they passed away on Friday.
A third person, Mrs. Ekenere Awaji Loveday, succumbed to the same symptoms and died on Saturday.
He added that others, including Mrs. Amos Asitor, are in critical condition, with medical access in the area being nearly impossible.
Isaiah recounted, “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.”
He further explained, “Last night two people from the same compound of Isiodum community in Andoni local government area named Mr. Micheal Agba and Mrs. Abigail Rowland died through constant vomiting and stooling. As the battle to resuscitate others who are also attacked by the same disease continues, this morning, January 11th, 2025, one Mrs. Ekenere Awaji Loveday has just been reported dead. Others, including Mrs. Amos Asitor, are in a very critical condition as means to access medical attention in the area is nearly impossible.”
In response to the incident, the media aide to the State Commissioner for Health,Ednah Alete, said she had not yet received an official report of the outbreak.
She mentioned that she had forwarded the information to the Head of Disease Control at the State Ministry of Health and was awaiting feedback.
Alete noted that confirming the outbreak would follow a procedural process, which includes a team from the ministry visiting the community to collect samples.
