A strange disease said to have killed at least, 11 people, leaving five others hospitalised, has been reported in communities at Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Five people who also got infected and were said to have been hospitalised following the outbreak of the strange disease, were also said to be battling for survival.
The strange disease has been because of its symptoms was, however, from an unconfirmed report, was said to be said to cholera, but this has not been ascertained by the state government.
The state government, reacting said the cholera claim could not be immediately ascertained since results of samples taken from the victims were still being awaited.
According to residents of the Oyo community, it was said the first case was recorded at Ariku village, where five people had been reported dead, from where it was said the disease later spread to Lagun village where another six people were also confirmed dead.
The Caretaker Chairman of Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr Kelani Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident said, “So far, 11 persons have lost their lives to the strange disease.
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He, however, said, five persons were hospitalised, while four persons have been discharged, adding that, the cause of the cases was being investigated.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashiru Bello, speaking on the test conducted said, results have not been confirmed to be cholera.
“The tests carried out on the affected persons are still premature and the samples collected have not confirmed the sickness to be cholera,” Bello said.
According to him, surveillance and health officers sent to the local government to take samples and assess the situation reported the poor unhygienic condition and dirty environment in the area.
Also, the lawmaker representing Lagelu State Constituency in Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Akintunde Olajide, said a preliminary investigation into the cause of the sickness has shown that the cause could largely be attributed to lack of access to clean and potable water.
Consequently, he said he had ordered the immediate repair of three of the four boreholes in the communities, to give people in the rural community access to good and hygienic water supply.
