Information on Cholera

With the recent outbreak of cholera in some states in Nigeria, please read here... I want to enlighten us on what cholera is and all its prevention and cure.

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.

Cholera Causes

Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated by faeces from a person with the infection. Common sources include:

• Municipal water supplies
• Ice made from municipal water
• Foods and drinks sold by street vendors
• Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes
• Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage

When a person consumes the contaminated food or water, the bacteria release a toxin in the intestines that produces severe diarrhea.

It is not likely you will catch cholera just from casual contact with an infected person.

Cholera Symptoms

 

Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious. About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Although many infected people may have minimal or no symptoms, they can still contribute to spread of the infection.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Loss of skin elasticity (the ability to return to original position quickly if pinched)
• Dry mucous membranes, including the inside of the mouth, throat, nose, and eyelids
• Low blood pressure
• Thirst
• Muscle cramps

If not treated, dehydration can lead to shock and death in a matter of hours.

Cholera Treatment and Prevention

Although there is a vaccine against cholera, the CDC and World Health Organization don't normally recommend it, because it may not protect up to half of the people who receive it and it lasts only a few months. 

However, you can protect yourself and your family by using only water that has been boiled, water that has been chemically disinfected, or bottled water. Be sure to use the bottled, boiled, or chemically disinfected water for the following purposes:

• Drinking
• Preparing food or drinks
• Making ice
• Brushing your teeth
• Washing your face and hands
• Washing dishes and utensils that you use to eat or prepare food
• Washing fruits and vegetables

To disinfect your own water, boil it for one minute (or 3 minutes at higher elevations) or filter it and use a commercial chemical disinfectant. You should also avoid raw foods, including the following:

• Unpeeled fruits and vegetables
• Unpasteurized milk and milk products
• Raw or undercooked meat or shellfish
• Fish caught in tropical reefs, which may be contaminated

If you develop severe, watery diarrhea and vomiting -- particularly after eating raw shellfish or traveling to a country where cholera is epidemic -- seek medical help immediately. Cholera is highly treatable, but because dehydration can happen quickly, it's important to get cholera treatment right away.

Hydration is the mainstay of treatment for cholera. Depending on how severe the diarrhea is, treatment will consist of oral or intravenous solutions to replace lost fluids. Antibiotics, which kill the bacteria, are not part of emergency treatment for mild cases.  But they can reduce the duration of diarrhea by half and also reduce the excretion of the bacteria, thus helping to prevent the spread of the disease.

Symptoms of Cholera

LSSC TAKES SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO JETTIES

In its resolve to stem the tide of boat mishaps, injury or deaths, the Lagos Safety Commission (LSSC) has taken its safety campaign to various jetties in the State.

Flagging off the campaign at the Tazan Boat jetty, Lekki,  the Director General, of the Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi stated that the exercise is to deliberate on operational challenges and way forward.

According to Odebunmi, safety is a critical tool for development and protection of lives and proprieties, stressing that boating, which entails the use of canoes for fishing and transportation, has been part of the cultural heritage of Lagosians.
The Director General said further that the decision to embark on safety advocacy was necessitated by the unfortunate boat disaster in Majidun area of Ikorodu  in which no fewer than 18 people lost their lives last year.

Odebunmi emphasised the need for operators to maintain their boats and jetties for safe operations.
She also called on boat operators and passengers alike to abide by laws guiding boat operations in the state and to avail themselves of boating courses and other modern techniques in boat operation to ensure safety of lives and properties on Lagos waters.

Reiterating the State Government’s decision to reduce accidents to the barest minimum, Odebunmi stressed that the Commission is empowered by law to regulate safety activities through policy formulation, advocacy, research, standard setting as well as quality assurance and monitoring, among others.

Also speaking, Dr. Mashileya of Gani Tazan Marine Enterprises noted that the number of boat mishaps have reduced as a result of the state government’s determination and cooperation with boat operators in the state.

While imploring government to provide ambulances on waterways, he urged operators to ensure that passengers wear their life jackets before embarking on boat ride.

Mr. Ajayi Michael, Deputy Director, Lagos State Fire Service spoke of the need to be safety conscious always, giving assurance that the state Fire Service will soon commence operations on the waterways as the state government recently commissioned 34 fire fighting vehicles as part of its resolve to combat fire incidence.

An official of LASWA, Mr. Bayo explained that the decision to discourage  night trips  by government  had become imperative because  a good number of boat mishaps  occurred at night.

He therefore solicited for the cooperation of operators in respect of regular inspection of vessels, maintenance of life jackets and the need to discourage over loading.

A jetty in Lagos

CMS Jetty

Fire Oubreak in Surulere, Lagos

Fire outbreak in Lagos

Fire broke out this morning, 27-01-2015 at about 3.22am in the Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos. The fire ravaged a two-storey building, and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.

We have talked about fire here, fire prevention here
and fire extinguishers here  

Please call Lagos state fire safety on 

S/N	DESIGNATION	NAME	PHONE	E-MAIL
1.	DIRECTOR	FADIPE RASAK IDOWU	08028078847	manfadip@yahoo.com
2.	ASST. DIRECTOR
4	ALAUSA  FIRE STATION	CFS SHONEKAN M.	08023528482 08033193826
5.	IKEJA FIRE STATION	CFS HUNGE G. A.	08023129094	hagtonamos@yahoo.com
6.	IKOTUN /IGANDO FIRE STATION	ACFS ADESHIYAN O. A.	08056455969	Adashiyan@yahoo.com
7.	EPE FIRE STATION	PFSI.  JUBRI T.A	08033410920	Kingtaj4real@yahoo,com
8.	BADAGRY FIRE STATION	PFSI ABIMBOLA M. O.	08158669923 08025484963	Olayemi abimbola@yahoo.com
9.	AGEGE FIRE STATION	ACFS AYANJOMPE OLUSEGUN	08035720765	Robert oluayan@yahoo.com
10.	ISOLO FIRE STATION	CFS OLAOGUN D. G.	08028252638	Oladson @yahoo.com
11.	ETI-OSA FIRE STATION	ACFS AJAYI M.	08034036594	Michael ajayi@50@yahoo.com
12.	ILUPEJU FIRE STATION	CFS ADEKOYA F.A.	08056462363 08022965494
13.	SARI – IGANMU FIRE STATION	ACFS OLOKUNGBOYE P.	08023158200	Polokungboye@yahoo.com
14.	OJO  FIRE STATION	CFS OLADIPUPO S.	08025036279	Alhajisena@yahoo.com
15.	IKORODU FIRE STATION	CFS AYANGBESAN F.	08028129154
16.	ONIKAN FIRE STATION	ACFS FATAI R. O.

Pictures of Fire outbreak in Lagos

Incidence of Bird Flu in Nigeria 23-01-14

NIGERIA - Highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread to seven states and affected 140,000 birds, according to a report today. The H5N1 virus strain has been identified as the cause.

An outbreak of H5N1 virus responsible for bird flu in Nigeria has spread to 21 commercial farms in seven different states, with more than 140,000 birds having been exposed to the virus, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, said on 22 January.

According to This Day Live, the authorities said the deadly virus had arrived in Lagos in the South-west, and Kano in the North, last week.

Mr Adesina said it had now spread to five other states across the country: Ogun, Delta, Rivers, Edo and Plateau.
Around 100,000 of the birds exposed were in Kano, he added.
“All the farms have been quarantined and decontaminated. Other locations in Ikorodu, Ojo and Lagos Mainland have already been quarantined, while awaiting confirmation.”
 
“Nigeria will successfully control the bird flu outbreak. We have successfully controlled it in the past,” he added.

Africa’s most populous country and biggest economy was the continent’s first country to detect bird flu in 2006, when chicken farms were found to have the H5N1 strain.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has urged farmers not to panic over the spread of the Avian Influenza virus in some parts of the country.
The General Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Lagos state, Olugbenga Ogunsetan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that two live bird markets - at Onipanu and Bariga - have been fumigated following detection of virus strain there.

Dead birds to be destroyed

Bird Flu (cont'd)

What is highly pathogenic H5N1?

H5N1 is an avian (bird) flu virus that has caused outbreaks in domestic poultry in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Because H5N1 is so deadly to poultry, it is considered “highly pathogenic,” or highly disease causing.

Is highly pathogenic H5N1 virus still a threat?

Since 2003, 650 human infections with highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses have been reported to the World  Health Orgranization (WHO) by 15 countries. About 60% of these people died from their illness.
In 2011, 62 human H5N1 cases and 34 deaths were reported from five countries—Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Egypt, and Indonesia.  Six countries— Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam—have widespread and ongoing infections in their poultry. Poultry outbreaks have occurred in other countries recently as well.

Could I get highly pathogenic H5N1?

Human infection with H5N1 is rare. Most infections occurred after direct or close contact with poultry infected with H5N1. There is no evidence that this virus can spread easily between people.
Symptoms and possible complications of highly pathogenic H5N1 in people can include:
Symptoms:

• Fever and cough
• Acute respiratory distress
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

Complications:

• Pneumonia
• Respiratory failure
• Shock
• Altered mental state
• Seizures
• Failure of multiple organs (e.g. kidney failure)
• Death

How can I prevent highly pathogenic H5N1 virus infection?

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid any contact with sick or dead poultry.  This includes avoiding visiting live poultry markets that may be infected with H5N1 when traveling. Also avoid sick people who might have H5N1 virus infection in affected countries.
The United States government carefully controls domestic and imported food products. The US bans poultry and poultry product imported from countries whose poultry are infected by certain bird flu viruses, including H5N1.
You cannot get highly pathogenic H5N1 virus infection from properly handled and cooked poultry and eggs. When preparing poultry or eggs:

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw poultry or eggs
• Clean cutting boards and other utensils with soap and water to keep raw poultry from contaminating other foods.
• Use a food thermometer to make sure you cook poultry to a temperature of at least 165^o F.
• Cook eggs until whites and yolks are firm.

Thailand has begun a phase 1 clinical trial to test an H5N1 avian, or bird, influenza vaccine in a needle-free, nasal spray form. This trial is a result of international collaboration with health agencies around the world, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This is the first step in testing the new vaccine in humans. The study and data analysis is expected to be complete by May 2013.

Nigeria: A Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads....

Below is the excerpt from a newspaper about the outbreak of  bird flu

"An outbreak of avian flu that began in two states has spread to seven since last week and has infected more than 140,000 birds, Nigeria’s agriculture minister was quoted as saying by Nigerian news media on Thursday. The minister, Akwinumi Adesina, sought to assure the public that the outbreak had not reached a crisis. “There is no cause for alarm,” he said, though at least one strain of the virus that causes the disease, H5N1, can infect humans. He also exhorted Nigerian consumers not to fear poultry consumption because the virus is spread only through contact between live birds and people who directly handle them, and the virus dies when cooked. “So, let Nigerians feel free to eat chicken and eggs,” Mr. Adesina was quoted as saying. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and leading poultry producer."

What is Bird flu?

H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian (bird) flu virus that has caused serious outbreaks in domestic poultry in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Highly pathogenic refers to the virus’s ability to produce disease. Although H5N1 does not usually infect humans, nearly 650 cases of human cases of H5N1 have been reported from 15 countries since 2003.

• Most human cases of “highly pathogenic“ H5N1 virus infection have occurred in people who had recent contact with sick or dead poultry that were infected with H5N1 viruses. About 60% of people infected with the virus died from their illness.
• Unlike other types of flu, H5N1 usually does not spread between people.
• There have been no reported infections with these viruses in birds, poultry, or people in the United States.
• You cannot get infected with these viruses from properly handled and cooked poultry or eggs.