By John Bulus
GOMBE — At least 41 persons have lost their lives with about 694 in different hospitals in Gombe State over the current wave of gastro-entritis in the last few weeks.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Isa Umar, who would rather not yield to journalists’ probe if the epidemic was the same as cholera, confirmed that more than eight local government areas which included Akko, Biriliri, Katungo, Balanga, Yamatu/Deba, Gombe, Kwami and Shongom had been severely affected in the recent weeks.

The commissioner, however, revealed that though the state and local governments were yet to receive any form of assistance from the Federal Ministry of Health, efforts have been intensified to curb the disease.

Vanguard learnt that some of the measures so far taken to contain the outbreak were provision of adequate drugs which is to be administered free of charge to all patients in all government and local government health establishments as well as public and community education in the affected communities and schools about the mode of transmission and control of the disease.

Umar added that about 38 wells and other sources of water supply in the areas had been “chlorinated” and called on the people to keep their environment clean, wash all fruits before consumption and report all related cases and signs diarrhea and vomiting to the nearest hospital.