No fewer than 18 people have been confirmed dead following an outbreak of cholera disease at Asako village in Bungudu Local Council of Zamfara state.

Similarly, about 100 persons have been hospitalised in relation to the outbreak of the disease believed to have been caused by the contamination of the only open dug well used by the community to access water.

Speaking with reporters on the development yesterday at Bungudu,the council chairman, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi Nahuche, attributed the outbreak of the disease to lack of portable drinking water for the people of the area, pointing out that areas mostly affected were Asako, Bela, Gada and some villages around the local government area.

The council chairman said the situation is becoming worse particularly at Asako village as of the time he visited the area,"I saw by my self more than 50 people that were infected by the disease which emanated from an open dug well that serve as the only source of water used by the people of the Asako village," Said Nahuche.

He said when his council received the information about the outbreak through the district head of Bela while noting that a team of health personnel have been deployed to the area for first aid treatment.

When asked about the preventive measures taken by his council, the chairman said the local government have embarked on massive enlightenment campaign on the importance of boiling water before they are being used to all inhabitants of the rural areas in the area.

"The director in charge of health department under my council have confirmed to me that he witnessed seven graves of people that died at Asako as a result of this cholera. It is not through that the figure rose to 20 or 30,"said Nahuche.

He said the council has already purchased drugs worth N500.000 to combat the disease. " the situation is becoming worse more than 50 are now lying critical, receiving treatment at primary health centre at Kasuwar Daji." he revealed.

According to him," I therefore advised people living in the area to always boil their water before drinking, Insha Allah we have overcome the situation, because drugs have been provided."