The Oyo State Hospitals Management Board on Saturday in Ibadan urged the state’s residents to promptly report symptoms of cholera to the hospitals while maintaining good personal hygiene.

The Board’s Chairman, Dr Akin Fagbemi, in a statement urged citizens to ensure proper waste disposal and sanitation practices.

He further urged them to maintain regular hand-washing with soap, especially before eating and after using the toilet.

Mr Fagbemi also asked individuals to ensure they eat only properly cooked food and avoid raw or undercooked seafoods.

“Oral cholera vaccines are available and can be effective in preventing outbreaks. Oral Rehydration Salts are good to prevent dehydration, and intravenous fluids can be used in severe cases where oral rehydration is not sufficient. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to reduce the severity and duration of the illness, while zinc supplements are often given to children to reduce the duration of diarrhoea,” he said.

The Board Chairman pointed out that cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the vibrio cholerae bacteria.

He added that it is caused by the vibrio cholerae bacteria which typically spread through contaminated water or food.

“The symptoms include severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to rapid dehydration, and signs of dehydration include dry mouth, thirst, reduced urine output, and sunken eyes. There are also muscle cramps, due to loss of fluids and electrolytes, shock in severe cases, and leading to death if untreated,” Mr Fagbemi.

(NAN)