A probable cholera epidemic in the Ekeureku hamlet in the Abi Local Government Area of Cross River may have resulted in the deaths of twenty people.
Ten communities in the Ekeureku community have allegedly been hit by the suspected epidemic since Thursday.
The epidemic was confirmed by Dr Iwara Iwara, Permanent Secretary at the Cross River Ministry of Health, although he could not estimate the number of fatalities.
He told them that a health fast response team had been created by the state government, and it had already begun working in the neighbourhood next to Ebonyi.
According to a village chief who asked to remain anonymous, it all started when several residents began experiencing acute diarrhoea and dehydration.
He claimed that the illness was initially believed to be related to the dry season.
“We discovered that this time, the disease was spreading very fast and was killing affected persons within a few minutes of passing out watery stool.
“As of Saturday, more than 20 persons have died because of suspected cholera across the 10 villages,’’ he stated.
The village head added that the community had sent SOS to its natives working in the health sector and that from feedback so far received, the WHO and UNICEF would soon arrive to contain the situation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ekeureku is an agrarian community that had been faced with the unavailability of potable water and lacked good health facilities.
The 10 villages that makeup the Ekeureku community are: Agbara, Ngarabe, Ekureku-be, Akpoha, Akare-for, Anong, Emenekpon, Etegevel, Egboronyi and Emegeh.