By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—SINCE the outbreak of cholera in Ebonyi State last month, statistics of victims resulting from the disease have continued to rise in different communities across the state.

Four persons (names withheld) were last weekend reported to have again died at Okposhi and Ukwagba Ngbo in Ohaukwu local government areas of the state from the deadly disease.

Vanguard investigation revealed that one of the victims was an apprentice with a tailoring outfit and that the victims died because due to lack of knowledge of symptoms of the disease.

Members of the community who spoke to Vanguard, blamed the Public Health and Disease Control Department of the State Ministry of Health for its inability to sufficiently enlighten the rural dwellers of the nature of the disease.

Contacted, the Director of Public Health in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Achi, who expressed shock and disappointment over the level of death resulting from the outbreak, advised rural dwellers not to keep any person suspected to be ill at home but to rush to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Achi regretted that despite warnings from the state Ministry of Health concerning the disease, most rural dwellers were still bent on doing only what was on their minds.

He warned the people of the state to desist from travelling to areas identified by the Ministry as cholera endemic zones to avoid falling victims to the deadly disease.