Seven persons, mainly children, have died from cholera in Delta State.

This was confirmed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, on Tuesday while giving an update on the cholera situation in Asaba, the state capital.

He said, “The first outbreak began in mid-February. The state has recorded about 138 cases in Warri South West, which is where it started, and in the third outbreak, we had 11 suspected cases in Bomadi and one in Oshimili South. So far, seven people, mainly children, have lost their lives.

“Advocacy is an ongoing process; the risk factors include poor sanitary conditions and reduced stomach acid. Cholera has an incubation period of up to 12 days, so within this period, someone who is not yet showing symptoms can spread it via faeces and urine to others in close proximity.”

He noted that the male-to-female ratio of the casualties was 3:1, adding that the casualties were recorded during the first outbreak, while the second and third outbreaks are under control by the State Ministry of Health.

The Commissioner also mentioned that the disease is common among villages situated along water banks and listed high-risk local government areas in the state as Warri South West, Warri North, Warri South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Patani, Bomadi, and Burutu.