The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Bayelsa said on Sunday that it had commenced sensitisation to alert the residents of an outbreak of cholera in the state.

The statewide sensitisation followed confirmation of the outbreak by Seiyefa Brisibe, the State’s Commissioner for Health, on January 26.

The acting state director of NOA in Bayelsa, Grace Olobio, made this known in a statement issued in Yenagoa.

Ms Olobio said, “The outbreak is believed to have been caused by contamination of water sources and poor sanitation facilities in the affected areas.”

She explained that signs and symptoms of the disease included diarrhoea, low blood pressure, dehydration, sunken eyes and extreme thirst, rapid weight loss, dry and shrivelled skin, as well as vomiting.

The NOA boss advised the residents to prevent the disease by boiling their water before drinking, washing their hands frequently with soap and running clean water.

She further counselled the people to avoid eating raw and undercooked foods, avoid open defecation and improper disposal of waste.

While calling for calm, the NOA boss urged residents to take immediate precautions to prevent further spread of cholera across the state.

She urged the residents to seek medical attention whenever symptoms of the disease are noticed.

(NAN)