Cholera Outbreak: Patients Don’t Only Die From the Infection but More From Dehydration – Egboja

Añadido: 2026-06-03

[00:00:02][music] >> We have Dr. Isaac Boja. He is a public health expert who would be, of course, speaking on the cholera outbreak affecting more than 3,000 people and causing more than, you know, over 40 deaths across 139 communities.

[00:00:19]And we're talking about Borno state alone. Good to have you on News Night tonight.

[00:00:25]>> to be here.

[00:00:26]>> This I mean, that when you hear 39 deaths, 272 new cases, over 3,000 infected, should we begin to be concerned at all levels?

[00:00:40]>> Certainly.

[00:00:41]Cholera is a very rapid spreading acute diarrhea disease that should be handled as quickly and as effectively as possible because patients don't only die because of the the infection by the bacteria, but more from dehydration, the loss of water fluid from the body through vomiting and diarrhea.

[00:01:10]>> Yes, I'd like you to I mean, why do we continue to have these outbreaks really, come to think of it?

[00:01:16]It's not the first time and it's not looking like it's going to be, you know, the last time we'll be having these outbreaks. And why Borno specifically?

[00:01:26]Do you think there might be a link with the security crisis there that does not allow, you know, governance or government to provide those basic necessities for the people?

[00:01:38]>> Yeah, that's true.

[00:01:40]What when you have cholera, it is because cholera is caused by a bacteria called a vibrio cholerae.

[00:01:50]>> Vibrio >> cholerae.

[00:01:52]>> Cholerae.

[00:01:52]>> And it is usually it results into cholera when that bacteria is ingested through drinking water or food that is contaminated by human feces.

[00:02:07]So, when you have water that is contaminated, water that is not safe, food that is not properly cooked, and there are people who have been affected and infected, those people could spread the disease to other people. And when you have people also who don't have good personal hygiene, in other words, they don't wash their hands as frequently as possible, they don't wash their hands before they they eat, they don't wash their hands after going to the toilet, and sanitation is poor, disposal of human feces is very poor, you know that in Nigeria in many states, people are defecating in the open.

[00:02:47]And one of the reasons why we have the outbreak at this time of the year is because there is water flowing now because of the rains.

[00:02:58]And when water flows, it carries the feces, and therefore sources of drinking water are contaminated, and that is the major cause of cholera.

[00:03:08]>> Okay. I also know that Borno has been suffering a lot of displacements as as far as insecurity is concerned.

[00:03:17]But I don't know if you've looked at those statistics and how rapidly it's it's spreading.

[00:03:22]From your experience, why do you think that we're seeing this spread across this local governments, these numbers, in just 24 hours? What could be responsible for that? And what's the quickest intervention that you think that government should do that they're not doing at the moment?

[00:03:40]>> Well, I just mentioned the fact that rains have just started.

[00:03:44]There is a lot of contamination of water sources.

[00:03:49]Many of the people that are affected also don't have enough water.

[00:03:54]The safe water to drink, safe water for bathing and so on. And they eat contaminated food, too.

[00:04:00]>> So, so you think this large number of people are taking water and food from the same sources across this local local government?

[00:04:06]>> No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[00:04:07]Not necessarily from the same sources, but from the same cause or causes.

[00:04:12]>> Oh.

[00:04:12]>> Uh open defecation is a major problem that we have especially in those kinds of environment where people are living in the open.

[00:04:20]>> Mhm.

[00:04:21]>> Many people are living in camps.

[00:04:23]And many people are living in very poor uh environments.

[00:04:28]>> Mhm.

[00:04:28]>> There's no sanitation. There's no proper disposal of human feces.

[00:04:32]And uh there's contamination everywhere.

[00:04:35]>> So, what's the quickest intervention?

[00:04:37]And what do you think >> intervention, first of all, the water that they drink must be boiled. Or they should give them chlorine to purify the water.

[00:04:45]That's one. Two, they must make sure that they give them enough water and soap to wash their hands especially when they go to the toilet. And to wash anything that they are going to eat if it is not cooked. Things like fruits and so on should be washed before they are consumed.

[00:05:04]>> Yeah, interesting. And I mean, I've heard you say poor a number of times. It almost makes you believe that there's an exhaust between uh cholera outbreak and and poverty.

[00:05:16]>> Yes, the connection is this.

[00:05:18]Most people in in urban areas, for example, have access to safe water.

[00:05:23]>> Mhm.

[00:05:24]>> Purified water.

[00:05:25]>> Mhm.

[00:05:26]>> Poor people in especially in rural areas don't.

[00:05:29]>> Right.

[00:05:29]>> And when you are poor ch- chances are that you also defecate uh in the open.

[00:05:35]>> Mhm.

[00:05:36]>> And when you defecate in the open and there's water flowing, that water flows to contaminate water sources.

[00:05:41]>> should government the state governments be doing now?

[00:05:44]>> The number one thing to do is to provide them with safe drinking water. That's the the quickest way to stop it.

[00:05:51]>> As a temporary measure.

[00:05:53]>> As a temporary measure.

[00:05:54]>> Right.

[00:05:55]>> And then of course, to make sure that even if they are living in camps, let them have toilets. Very important.

[00:06:02]>> All right, thank you so much Dr. Isaac Adewole, public health expert for your insight [music] on this development of cholera outbreak in Borno State.

[00:06:13]>> My pleasure.

[00:06:14]>> your time.