Cholera outbreak kills 17 in Nigeria

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - At least 17 people have been confirmed dead in an ongoing cholera outbreak in Nigeria’s northcentral Kwara state, according to a report by the country's center for disease control.

“The cholera outbreak in Kwara state continued ... with a total of 1,617 suspected cases reported, an increase of 3.6% from the last Epi-week. 13 laboratory samples were confirmed and 17 deaths recorded, giving a case fatality rate of 1.1%,” the center said in a report posted on its website late Thursday.

The center said children aged between one and five years were the most affected with a total of 460 cases reported for the age group, with male children accounting for 51.6 percent of the cases.

The disease control body also called for improved environmental hygiene among the communities.

“Members of the public are advised to always seek care in a health facility if they have watery diarrhoea,” the center added.