ABUJA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Nigeria's northeastern state of Gombe on Thursday declared an outbreak of cholera after recording at least 10 deaths arising from the disease.
A total of 236 cases of cholera were recorded as of Tuesday, Habu Dahiru, the commissioner for health in Gombe, told reporters in Gombe city, the state's capital, while declaring an outbreak of the disease in at least eight wards of the Balanga local government area.
Cholera is a highly virulent disease characterized in its most severe form by a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhea that can lead to death by severe dehydration.
According to Dahiru, the northern Gombe state had recorded sporadic cases of cholera in the Balanga area from June.
Amid efforts by the health authorities to largely subdue the outbreak, the official said Gombe has continued to experience an increased downpour of rain and flooding in many parts of the state and this has resulted in cholera outbreaks.
The state government has established 13 cholera units for treating the cases free of charge, he said, adding the decontamination of wells and boreholes in affected communities would also be carried out.
The cholera outbreak is frequently reported in Nigeria due to the lack of potable water supply, especially in densely populated areas. ■