Katsina/Damaturu — The death toll from the cholera epidemic and a related disease has risen to 283 in some states in the North, according to various official figures last night.

The figure of those infected by cholera in the past two weeks has also risen above 5,000 from the earlier 4,600 figure announced last week, officials said.

Among the states mostly hit according to a report by AFP are Yobe, Katsina and Kaduna.

Cholera, a water-born disease, causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration and with a short incubation period it could be fatal if not treated on time.

The latest outbreak was recorded in Yobe State where 42 people died in the past week from a disease health officials said was a form of gastro-enteritis, characterised by vomiting and diarrhoea, which are also cholera symptoms.

Sixteen persons also died as a result of suspected gastro-enteritis, while 226 others have been hospitalized in Funtua and Kankia local government councils of Katsina State .

Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu said last Thursday that 231 people had died of cholera, while 4,600 others were infected in some states, particularly in the North with Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa being worst hit.

Cholera has also killed at least four people in a village in Kaduna State in the past week as a result of contamination of open wells, state health commissioner Charity Shekari told AFP.

THISDAY learnt that the death of 42 persons in Yobe came after taking contaminated water drawn from wells and ponds in 10 council areas of the state even as 484 others are believed to have been infected with gastro-enteritis.

Confirming the outbreak of the water borne disease at the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) Office in Damaturu, the state Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Isa Adamu, said though the disease could not yet be ascertained to be cholera, it had, however, shown all physical symptoms of the disease.

Cholera was recorded recently on July 27, 2010 in Mutai in Gujba council area of the state.

Isa said the situation was worsened due to lack of public health laboratory in the entire North-east zone for gram staining and to carry out culture and sensitivity to ascertain whether or not it is gastro-enteritis or cholera.

He disclosed that the test on the first sample failed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), while the seven other samples of patients, were subsequently rejected, because the equipment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) were not accredited to carry out such tests for cholera.

On the affected council areas and measure taken to prevent further spread, the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mallam Musa Alaraba, told journalists that the deputy governor who doubles as the commissioner for health has directed the deployment of over 100 health personnel with intravenous drugs, antibiotics and water treatment chemicals worth N2 million, to the cholera treatment camps in Damaturu, the state capital and nine other centres.

Alaraba said the drugs were to aid the victims replenish lost fluids while they also receive other antibiotics as the state government continues to explore other intervention measures of saving people's lives.

On the breakdown of death tolls it was revealed that the affected council areas include Potiskum with the highest cases of 102 reported cases with five deaths, while Gulani and Damaturu, the state capital had 70 and 67 cases with eight and five death in that order.

Other council areas affected by the outbreak include Gujba (53) with 10 deaths, Fika (48) with a death toll six, Nguru (38) with three deaths, Jakusko (nine) with no loss of life, Fune (46) with three deaths, Nangere (two) with one person dead and Karasuwa (eight) with a person dead.

THISDAY correspondent who visited some of the affected villages in Funtua reports that some voluntary organizations such as Islamic Medical Association and Hospital Friends are providing free medical treatment to the affected people.While the most affected councils in the state in Funtua include Sabon Gari, Bisije, Bagai, Salau Kara and Funtua.

The State Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Aminu Jamo Daura, confirmed the outbreak to reporters but said the government was putting measures in place to curtail the spread of the disease to other areas.

Kankia Local Government Council chairman, Alhaji Bishir Baba Kaita, confirmed the death of the six people due to the outbreak of the disease, stating that the council has procured drug worth N300, 000 for the treatment of the affected people while aid groups have been mobilized to provide free treatment.

About 10 people were reported dead and 176 others hospitalized while in Kankia, the outbreak of the disease was reported at Rimaye and Tashar Gamji villages where six people were confirmed dead, while 50 others were hospitalized.

Addressing reporters after visiting the temporary camp, District Head of Funtua, Alhaji Idris Sambo, appealed to the federal and states governments to urgently come to the aid of those affected.