Six killed in suspected cholera outbreak in southern Nigeria

A suspected cholera outbreak in southeast Nigerian state of Ebonyi has left at least six people dead and eight others hospitalized in critical condition, a medical official said Friday.

The outbreak was recorded in the state's local government areas of Abakaliki and Ebonyi, State Director of Public Health and Disease Control Christian Achi told reporters.

"Four people died in Amachi town, while one each died in Edomia and Ikelegu towns, with eight people hospitalized and currently receiving treatment in health centers," he said.

Achi said health officials in the state had been mobilized to the affected communities to treat those victims in critical conditions.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.

Generally the cholera bacteria spreads in places with poor hygiene, where people do not use latrines to dispose off excreta, or do not wash their hands with soap or ash after defecation. Endi