Kogi State Government has confirmed the death of eight persons from diarrhoea-related diseases in five local government areas of the state.

A statement issued on Wednesday and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, also confirmed that a total of 129 cases had so far been reported while 66 persons had been infected.

The statement by the state Epidemiologist, cholerea, indicated that a total of seven communities, including three in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa Local Government Areas had been infected.

The statement titled, ‘Press release by Kogi State Ministry of Health on the outbreak of diarrhoea/vomiting in Kogi State’ read in part, “So far, local governments namely, Kogi, Bassa, Lokoja, Ankpa and Kabba Bunu have been affected between February and August, 2021.”

Ojotule said that seven communities were affected in the aforementioned LGAs with 129 cases.

“However, we were able to confirm cholera in three of the communities in Kogi, Lokoja and Ankpa LGAs with 66 persons affected and eight deaths (CFR=12.12%). These are border communities with hard to reach terrains,” Ojotule said in the statement.

He said most of the deaths had occurred before the reports got to the local government/state authorities, adding that findings also revealed that majority of the deaths in all the outbreaks occurred at home.

He added, “The state is working closely with the local government to avert further outbreaks by strengthening and sustaining community sensitisation and mobilisation.”