The Bayelsa State Government has issued a stern warning to residents of Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area against consuming a recently beached whale, highlighting the risk of mercury poisoning.
Toyin Azebi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, addressed journalists on Thursday following a meeting of the Bayelsa Taskforce on Immunisation and Health Services in Yenagoa. The meeting, convened by Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also discussed the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country, as per a statement by his media aide, Doubara Atasi.
This is the second instance in recent years where a whale has washed ashore at Okpoama, and, similar to the event in 2019, locals butchered the whale using hacksaws, axes, and machetes.
Azebi emphasized the severe health risks associated with consuming dead whales, including mercury poisoning, botulism, and bacterial infections.
In a separate issue, the state government refuted claims by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that Bayelsa State is experiencing a cholera epidemic. Azebi asserted that the NCDC’s report was incorrect and should be disregarded.
“All 449 suspected cholera cases reported from January to date have tested negative for cholera in clinical laboratory tests, proving to be cases of gastrointestinal diarrhoea,” Azebi stated.
The Ministry of Health has communicated with the NCDC, prompting a review of the state’s data and the agreement to issue a correction.
“The NCDC report is a gross misrepresentation of Bayelsa data. After our review, they have agreed to issue a new statement excluding Bayelsa from the list of states with a cholera outbreak,” she said.
Since January 2024, Bayelsa has reported 449 suspected cholera cases across its eight LGAs, but none have been confirmed. Extensive testing, including 42 Rapid Diagnostic Tests, of which 14 were positive, ultimately returned negative results in culture tests, which are the gold standard for cholera diagnosis.
“In summary, the cholera situation in Bayelsa State is under control with no confirmed positive case. The state government is actively managing the situation to ensure public health and safety,” Azebi concluded.
Comments