Diarrhoea outbreak hits Imo State, kills 30 children on HWN DIARRHOEA UPDATE

No fewer than 30 children have been reported dead following a fresh outbreak of diarrhea in Imo State.

Diarrhea is relatively common in remote parts of the state where clean drinking water is often hard to come by, with residents frequently relying on water from streams and uncertified boreholes.

Speaking on Thursday when a delegation from Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOCL) donated food, beds, gift items and clothing materials to the state government for the poor and physically challenged in the state, the State Commissioner for Health, Women Affairs and Social Development, Ngozi Njoku, said the death toll from the latest outbreak had risen to 30 in the last few weeks, while hundreds of children were suspected to have the infections in many local hospitals.

According to the Commissioner, 65 suspected cases had been reported in Ikeduru council area alone while areas like Orlu, Owerri West, Ohaji Egbema, Owerri North and Ngor Okpala areas had also reported cases.

She added that the diarrhea infection was as a result of climatic change. It is a viral infection that comes through the air and affects a lot of children, leading to vomiting and stooling. It is called in medicine gastro-enteritis.

The Commissioner stated that poor hygiene was the primary cause of the repeated outbreaks in the state.

Source: PremiumTimes, HWN Africa.