Five persons were feared dead and scores of others are undergoing treatment following the outbreak of an ailment said to be cholera that swept across four villages of Kankia local government in Katsina State.
It was gathered that the incident occured following outbreak of the disease in Layin Hayin Alasan, Sabuwar Kwarashi, Tafashiya and Nasarawa villages.
But the permanent secretary of Katsina State Ministry of Health, Dr Ahmed Qabasiyu said only two people died of vomiting and diarrhoea in the area, not cholera.
Residents said those dead and scores currently undergoing treatment at Kafin Soli health centre displayed symptoms which included vomitting and diarrhoea, prompting fears that they could have been hit by cholera.
However, Qabasiyu told our correspondent that a team had been dispatch to the area.
“It is not cholera outbreak, and from the information available to me, about one or two people died, not five, of a disease of diarrhoea and vomitting,” he said, adding that the ministry was awaiting official report from the team.
