Panic has set in for the residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, following the outbreak of a strange disease to result of the mysterious death of 11 people.
Anaedoonline.ng gathered that at least 11 persons have been reported dead with five hospitalized in the Lagelu local government area, Ibadan.
The five persons being hospitalised are said to be battling for survival. The cause of the sickness has not been ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
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But the unconfirmed report indicated that it was an outbreak of cholera as the symptoms closely compare with the deadly disease.
However, the state government said the claim could not be immediately established as results of samples taken from the victims were still being awaited.
Residents of the community said the first case was recorded at Ariku village, where five people had, so far, been reported dead, Punch reports.
It was learnt that the disease later spread to Lagun village where six persons were confined dead.
Caretaker Chairman, Lagelu local government, Mr. Abdullah Kelani confirmed that 11 persons have lost their lives so far.
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He added that five persons are currently hospitalised. Kelani said that four persons have been discharged.
He said part of the immediate action taken by the government was to investigate the cause of the sickness.
Kelani added that investigation revealed that it was due to lack of access to clean and potable water by the affected persons.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello said the tests carried out on the affected persons are still premature and the samples collected have not confirmed the sickness to be cholera.
He, however, added that the surveillance and health officers sent to the local government to take samples and assess the situation reported the poor unhygienic and dirty environment where the victims reside.
Bello added that these could have exposed them to all sorts of sickness and infection.
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Bello said all the persons suffering from the sickness have been hospitalised and are all responding to treatment.
The lawmaker representing Lagelu State Constituency, Mr Akintunde Olajide, confirmed that a preliminary investigation into the cause of the sickness revealed that it was mainly due to lack of access to clean and potable water.
The lawmaker said he had ordered the immediate repair of three of the four boreholes in the communities, to give them access to hygienic water sources.
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