By EHIGIMETOR IGBAUGBA

Twenty persons may have lost their lives to suspected cholera outbreak in Ekeureku community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River.

The suspected outbreak has reportedly affected 10 villages in Ekeureku community beginning from Thursday.

Dr Iwara Iwara, Permanent Secretary at the Cross River Ministry of Health confirmed the outbreak but said he could not give the figure of the death toll.

He assured, however, that the state government had activated a health rapid response team, which had swung into action in the community bordering Ebonyi.

One village head who requested anonymity said it all began when some villagers started feeling severe diarrhoea and dehydration.

He said the health condition was initially thought to be one of those associated with the dry season.

“We discovered that this time, the disease was spreading very fast and was killing affected persons within few minutes of passing out watery stool.

“As at 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 (NAN) reports that Ekeureku is an agrarian community that had been faced with unavailability of potable water and lacked good health facilities.

The 10 villages that make up Ekeureku community are: Agbara, Ngarabe, Ekureku-be, Akpoha, Akare-for, Anong, Emenekpon, Etegevel, Egboronyi and Emegeh. (NAN)