Angela Onwuzoo As schools resume from the mid-term break today, the Lagos State Government has advised parents to monitor the health of their children daily following the outbreak of cholera in the state. The state government also urged them to keep their children at home and seek medical advice when they exhibit signs of cholera such as passage of frequent watery stool with or without vomiting The government said this in a public health advisory published on Wednesday, urging all parents, guardians, and school authorities to adhere to the precautionary measures to protect children against the killer disease. The Lagos State Ministry of Health, on Saturday, confirmed 350 suspected cases of cholera in 29 wards across multiple LGAs in the state, with 17 confirmed cases and 15 deaths.
Earlier, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said Nigeria recorded 65 confirmed cases of cholera with 30 deaths from 1 January to 11 June across 96 local governments in 30 states. Cholera is a highly contagious food and water-borne disease. It spreads through direct transmission by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and indirect transmission due to poor sanitation and lack of handwashing.
Symptoms of cholera include acute, painless watery diarrhea of sudden onset, with or without vomiting. It may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting, and fever. According to the state government, parents should also ensure that their children maintain hand hygiene by carrying han.
