Residents of Bayelsa State heaved a sigh of relief as the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently commenced mass vaccination against cholera.

Several communities in the state had been recently ravaged by cholera allegedly due to unavailability of potable water, thereby forcing residents to drink from polluted river sources.

The most cholera-affected communities in Bayelsa State include; Nembe in Nembe LGA, Amassomma in Southern Ijaw, some communities in Ogbia, among others. While residents claimed there were casualties, the state government said no life has been lost to the disease outbreak.

Residents of the Obololi community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area recently ravaged by oil spill said the spill had caused severe water scarcity and increased the risk of a cholera outbreak.

What is cholera?

Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the organism, vibrio cholera, in contaminated water and food. Water is usually contaminated by the faeces of infected individuals. The disease can be fatal within hours if not treated.

“Once the bacteria is transmitted from either food, water or any other sources contaminated with the bacteria into the mouth, it then has the propensity of igniting the disease process in the individual,” Dr Dawal Kwande Solomon, a consultant family physician, said.

While there are numerous causes of vomiting and diarrhoea, in the case of cholera, the frequency of the passage of the watery stool is actually quite significant.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), most people infected with V. cholerae do not develop symptoms but can spread the bacteria through their faeces for 1–10 days. Symptoms appear 12 hours to 5 days after infection.

Most people with the disease have mild or moderate symptoms. A minority of patients develop severe acute watery diarrhoea and life-threatening dehydration, WHO said.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the time between infection and the appearance of symptoms is two hours to five days.

“It has a higher risk of transmission in areas that lack adequate sanitation facilities and/or a regular supply of clean water. Unsafe practices such as improper disposal of refuse and open defecation endanger the safety of water used for drinking and personal use,” NCDC said.

According to WHO, preventing and controlling cholera involves a combination of strengthening surveillance, improving water, sanitation and hygiene, increasing risk communication and community engagement, improving access to quality treatment and implementing oral cholera vaccine campaigns.

Medical experts said most people with the disease can be treated successfully with prompt ORS administration. Severely dehydrated patients are at risk of dying from dehydration and need rapid intravenous fluids. They also receive oral rehydration solutions and antibiotics.

Need for intervention

During a roundtable discussion on cholera prevention organised by a non-governmental organization, Woman Organised for Mentorship and Advocacy Network (WOMAN), recently, residents urged the state government to ensure that water company is functional for the residents to have access to potable water as one of the measures to prevent the spread of cholera pandemic in the state.

Speaking on the theme; “Overview of Cholera Outbreak in Bayelsa State, Impact on Communities and Vulnerable Groups”, a public health educator and founder of an NGO, ‘Comfort of the Afflicted’, Anthony Oraekeyi, said cholera often causes persistent loss of body fluids, frequently accompanied by vomiting, leading to rapid dehydration and loss of essential salts.

He said, “When the body loses these critical salts, such as zinc and electrolytes, it disrupts normal physiological functions, resulting in muscle cramps and weakness. If not promptly treated, severe dehydration can lead to organ failure and even death.

“This is why cholera outbreaks are considered a public health emergency that requires urgent intervention.

“We have heard unconfirmed reports from areas like Nembe and Sagbama, which means cholera could still be a silent threat. If an outbreak occurs in any part of Bayelsa or even beyond, it has the potential to affect everyone.”

Chairman, Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations (BANGOF), Taritein Boco, stated that lack of potable water constitutes a major challenge in the state as many communities do not have access to good waters, but continue to drink from river sources.

He called on all stakeholders to join hands with the government to devise strategies for prevention and control of cholera in the state.

Mass vaccination against cholera

The WHO had over last week begun mass vaccination of the residents of Bayelsa State against cholera infection to curb the spread of the disease in the state.

Speaking during the flag-off of the Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign in Yenagoa, the state capital, the state’s Coordinator of the World Health Organisation, Dr Marcus Oluwadare, described the state’s response to health emergency situations as very impressive.

Dr Oluwadare revealed that Bayelsa is the first state in the country to receive the OCV, which he said is safe for children