The Nigerian Government has urged Nigerians not to take locally made drinks like kunu, zobo and fura to prevent cholera disease.
The government also urged the public to be more vigilant and to practice good sanitation and hygiene practices at home and in their workplace.
The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, gave the directive in a recent statement in Abuja.
He said, “Ensure the use of clean and safe water. Water from suspicious sources should be well boiled or treated by adding one pack of chlorine solution to 100 parts.
“Avoid locally prepared drinks like kunu, zobo, fura da nono, koko, fruit juice among others except it is certain that the preparation was done in a hygienic and safe manner.
“Wash hands regularly with soap under running water, especially after using the toilet, cleaning a child who has gone to the toilet, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after playing with animals.”
He also urged States and Local Governments to increase environmental health surveillance in areas where food and drinks are sold nationwide.
He noted that the measures would help prevent the further spread and transmission of cholera and aid in the prevention and control of the disease.
He made it known that a recent situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicated a total number of 1,159 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 30 States.
He added that the most affected states contributing 90 percent of the total cases include Bayelsa, Lagos, Zamfara, Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Delta and Katsina
He said: “The ministry has been actively involved through the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) in activities to curtail further transmission of the deadly disease.
“The ministry has been involved through water and food testing to identify sources of infection, environmental sanitation campaigns and household water chlorination.
“The common early symptoms are frequent watery stool that is usually milky white in colour, nausea and vomiting. Cholera outbreak is a seasonal public health event in Nigeria, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and often in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene practices.
“Extreme climate events like flooding are also contributing in multiple ways to drive the outbreak of the disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the global resurgence of cases of cholera classifying the current outbreak as a “grade three public health emergency”, requiring maximal WHO system-wide response.
“Nigeria is one of the 14 countries in Africa where the resurgence is being experienced.”