The Delta State Ministry of Health said there has not been any outbreak of cholera in any part of the State, contrary to online media report.

The Ministry said its visit to the two communities in Isoko South Local Government Area, suspected to have suffered cholera outbreak, indicated that a total of 32 person were line-listed with five (5) reported deaths in the two communities; two in Umeh and three in Erowa.

According to the Ministry, the stool samples collected and sent to laboratory in Lagos were reported negative for cholera emphasizing that the suspected outbreak of gastroenteritis has since been controlled and contained.

The Ministry said it could not immediately establish the cause of the death of the five persons that died since they were already buried, but said her investigation showed that no one contacted cholera in the said communities.

The Ministry said investigation however revealed that those living far from the functional community borehole that make use of water from the river were the ones having cases of vomiting or stooling while households in the immediate vicinity of the borehole reported no case.

It added the further examination of the communities revealed that most of the houses lacked toilet or latrine facilities thereby making open defecation a common practice.

The Ministry therefore called on members of the affected communities and Deltans in general to maintain a high hygienic practice, advising them to boil and filter water from, well, streams and rivers before drinking.

It would be recalled that the Punch newspapers published on 20th April, 2015 on its online platform purporting that over 30 persons died of cholera in Delta State.

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