The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (ECHON) has issued a warning to Nigerians to avoid consuming food from restaurants and bukas not certified by environmental health practitioners as the country grapples with a growing cholera outbreak.
According to ECHON, a significant number of food and water samples collected from these vendors have tested positive for infectious pathogens. To mitigate the spread of the disease, the council is urging food vendors to undergo compulsory medical screening to ensure they are healthy before handling food preparations.
The council is also working closely with environmental health authorities to establish isolation centers and disinfection points in various zones across the country. Additionally, it is emphasizing the importance of proper hygiene measures, including regular disinfection of surfaces and equipment, especially in healthcare facilities.
As part of its efforts to contain the outbreak, ECHON is calling on local government health authorities to certify restaurants and food vendors before they can operate. The council is also working to establish a network of isolation centers and disinfection points across the country.
The outbreak has led to a significant increase in cases and fatalities across the country, with more than 80% of water and food samples collected by the council testing positive for infectious agents. The council is urging Nigerians to adopt environmental hygiene measures as a cheap and effective way to break the transmission chain of cholera.
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