Even as officials of the Benue State Ministry of Health continue to deny the existence of cholera epidemic in Otukpo local government area of the state, the level of casualty from frequent stooling and vomiting increased by one yesterday at Otobi-Akpa, a community in the local government area.
It will be recalled that about twelve people, mainly children died of what is considered to be gastroenteritis recently in the area.
The chairman of the local government council, Dr Innocent Onuh who informed Saturday Pilot on phone about the new casualty described the living condition of the people as precarious since they donot have access to good drinking water.
The development has forced officials of World Health Organization, WHO and Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, NIMR to visit Otukpo and its neighbouring communities to have first hand information on the incidence of cholera outbreak or other related diseases in the area.
The two medical bodies went round some of the hospitals in Otukpo town yesterday where they were availed information on the unfortunate development which claimed over twenty lives, mostly children.
From the Otukpo General Hospital to the local government health care centres as well as St Daniel Hospital, Asa 111, Otobi-Akpa, the teams took samples of several items, including water and stool which they said they will examine before concluding whether the ailment which claimed so many number of lives was actually cholera.
Both Nora Eyo, coordinator of WHO in Benue and Francisca Nyaokorie, NIMR team coordinator urged the people to observe adequate hygiene and always boil their water before drinking, promising that relevant attention would be given to them as soon as diagnosis of the disease was certified.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the local government, Dr Innocent Onuh has called on organisations and good spirited individuals to come to the aid of the victims who he said are poor and vulnerable to water borne diseases during the dry season.
Dr Onuh who made the call at Otukpo general hospital where he accompanied WHO and NIMR teams to inspect those affected by gastroenteritis and cholera related diseases disclosed that he had already secured the nod of NEMA to assist the people and advised the people to boil their water always, before drinking.