The Oyo State Ministry of Health, on Wednesday, declared that there was no evidence to back recent claims of a cholera outbreak in Lagun Village of Lagelu local government area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The ministry, which submitted the report of its technical committee that investigated the matter, said the claims of cholera outbreak were unfounded.
The report was signed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir V. Bello.
The report, titled “Re: Rumours of suspected cholera outbreak in Lagelu LGA of Oyo State,” indicated that investigations by the state’s Epidemiological Team, including the DSNO and local government teams in Lagelu and surrounding local government areas, showed there was no evidence to back such rumour.
A statement by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, quoted the commissioner as saying that the team dispatched to carry out the investigation, was also not shown any fresh grave or fresh burial ground to ascertain claims of mass death.
It stated, however, that the ministry had placed pre-positioned antibiotics and intravenous fluids at the state’s health facility in Lagun to prevent an outbreak of cholera in the area.
The commissioner added that the state had also begun an active case search in affected communities and neighbouring states as well as community engagement and enlightenment on the prevention of diarrheal diseases including cholera.
The statement further quoted the commissioner as explaining that findings from the field showed that the ailment recorded affected only four individuals and not 10 people as claimed and that there was no evidence to back the claim of six deaths.
He maintained that the ailment could be ascribed to poor hygienic conditions, adding that the ministry also suspected cases of gastroenteritis or likely food poisoning.
