Anxiety is mounting in the Magboro, Ogun, over a suspected cholera outbreak that has killed 10 people.

The suspected outbreak was first reported on Friday when a resident living in an uncompleted building died.

Two people living with her were said to have later died on Saturday.

Magboro community leaders have begun a house-to-house search for victims to help them get care.

They also sealed off some places to curtail further spread of the disease and later reopened after disinfecting them.

“The first person that died is a woman; two others living with her in an uncompleted building later died on Saturday,” a resident who identified himself as Solomon stated.

The Magboro Community Development Council secretary, David Ajayi, noted that the deaths could have been averted if the affected reported in time.

“We received the report of a suspected cholera outbreak when the deed had already been done. I can confirm the death of two people. One other person is hospitalised,” Mr Ajayi explained. “Another reported case was about a young girl taking care of her sick mother in a hospital in Asese. She was also confirmed dead.”

According to Mr Ajayi, health officials from Abeokuta “came on Saturday and Sunday to have an on-the -spot assessment and take samples from affected persons.”

He further stated that the community leaders had been going around “since we heard about the outbreak to inspect affected places. What I can confirm is that those places are not hygienic for living.”

“The first incident was reported on Oladejo Street. We learnt that they were paying just N50 per day to sleep in the uncompleted building. But the place has been sealed now,” Mr Ajayi stated. “We need the help of the government to relocate the destitute living in open places and uncompleted buildings; those places are not hygienic for living at all.”

The chairman of the Community Development Association, Cele Zone, Collins Anifowose, made similar observations.

He added, “As of Sunday, 10 people were reported dead. But it has been difficult to identify them. Their names were not given. There was a reported case around us here and in the Sawmill area. We were told that squatters are living in an unhygienic manner.”

Hakeem Yusuf, the director at the Epidemiology Unit of Ogun State Public Health Board, explained that the Ogun Ministry of Health officials had visited the affected area.

“I came to Magboro on Sunday together with other medical personnel. We are on top of the situation,” he said.

(NAN)