A cholera outbreak in Jigawa has killed at least 30 people, with more than 2,000 hospitalised in the past two months in the state.

Salisu Mu’azu, Permanent Secretary, Jigawa State Ministry of Health, who confirmed the outbreak, said most of the infected cases were children recorded in nine local government areas.

Mr Mu’azu listed Hadejia, Dutse, Kirikasamma, Birnin Kudu, and Ringim as some of the areas worst hit by the outbreak.

He added that some had been discharged from the 2,000 infected cases while others were still receiving treatment in government hospitals.

The permanent secretary, who could not immediately say the cause of the outbreak, pointed out that the Hadejia case could be linked to water pollution.

He noted a possibility of water contamination from an area where people practised open defecation near the water vendors who collect and circulate the water to residents of Hadejia.

Mr Mu’azu further stated that the state government was on top of the situation, for now, providing necessary assistance to the residents in the affected areas.

The permanent secretary also disclosed that the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had supplied some medications and promised to send more.

(NAN)