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Cholera Outbreak: 33 States Battle 2,102 Cases as NYSC Enforces Strict Camp Rules

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The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, has confirmed a severe cholera

Abuja, July 2, 2024 – The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, has confirmed a severe cholera outbreak across Nigeria, with 2,102 suspected cases and 63 deaths recorded in 33 states and 122 local government areas. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has responded by implementing strict guidelines in orientation camps to prevent the spread of the disease.

Rising Cholera Cases: Dr. Idris announced that the outbreak has escalated, with cases rising from 1,579 and 54 deaths in 32 states to 2,102 and 63 deaths in 33 states within a week. The disease has notably affected Lagos, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, and Nasarawa.

Primary Causes: Cholera, a highly contagious disease caused by ingesting contaminated food and water, has spread rapidly due to poor sanitation and the onset of the rainy season, leading to flooding and compromised water sources.

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NCDC’s Strategic Response:

  • Emergency Operations Centre (EOC): Activated to coordinate response efforts, mobilize resources, and provide strategic coordination.
  • Preventative Measures: Include assessment of cholera readiness in hotspots, provision of guidelines and advisories, distribution of medical supplies, and public health awareness campaigns.

NYSC’s Proactive Measures:

  • Strict Camp Rules: Implemented rigorous sanitation protocols, screened food vendors and kitchen staff, and provided hand-washing facilities and educational materials in orientation camps.
  • Regional Efforts: Various states have taken specific measures to ensure camp safety:
    • South-West: Comprehensive hygiene measures in Osun State Orientation Camp.
    • Gombe State: Daily hygiene sensitisation and strategic placement of hand-washing containers and waste baskets.
    • Sokoto State: Collaboration with health officials and screening of camp consumables and individuals.
    • Benue State: Screening and educating food vendors, and providing hand-washing facilities and awareness jingles.
    • Kwara State: Fumigation and clearing of Yikpata Orientation Camp to prevent disease outbreak.

State and Federal Actions:

  • Kogi State: Confirmed two cholera cases in Lokoja and Omala LGAs, with a response team set up to investigate and treat cases.
  • Oyo State: Inaugurated the Cholera Technical Working Group to coordinate multi-sectoral cholera prevention and response efforts.
  • House of Representatives: Urged the Federal Government to implement measures to curb the outbreak, mandated public education on hygiene, and called for an investigation into the outbreak’s root causes.

Conclusion: Nigeria’s cholera outbreak demands coordinated efforts from the NCDC, NYSC, state governments, and federal authorities. The proactive measures in NYSC orientation camps and the comprehensive response strategy from the NCDC are crucial in managing the outbreak and safeguarding public health.

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Ukraine and US Reach Minerals Agreement Amid Ongoing War

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Ukraine and US Reach Minerals Agreement Amid Ongoing War

Ukraine has confirmed an agreement with the United States on a minerals deal, calling it a “positive outcome” with “good amendments,” though officials have yet to disclose further details.

Media reports suggest that Washington has dropped an initial demand for a $500 billion share in potential revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, the deal does not appear to include the firm security guarantees that Kyiv had sought.

US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington this week to finalize the agreement. The development follows a series of tense exchanges between the two leaders.

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While Trump did not explicitly confirm the deal’s finalization, he stated that in return, Ukraine would get “the right to fight on.” Acknowledging Ukraine’s resilience, he added, “Without the United States and its money and its military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period of time.”

When asked whether US military support for Ukraine would continue, Trump indicated that assistance might persist “until we have a deal with Russia,” stressing the need for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. He also suggested that any future peace deal would require “some form of peacekeeping” acceptable to all parties involved.

Ukraine possesses vast deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and titanium, alongside substantial reserves of coal, gas, oil, and uranium—resources valued in the billions. Trump has framed the agreement as one that will allow the US to recoup more than it has spent on supporting Ukraine. However, final details of the deal reportedly remain under negotiation.

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video surfaced showing them making violent antisemitic remarks, including threats to harm Israeli patients. The incident, which allegedly took place at a hospital in Sydney, has sparked outrage and is now under police investigation.

New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the two individuals had been stood down immediately and would never work in the state’s healthcare system again. Authorities are conducting a thorough review of hospital records to ensure no patients were harmed, though a rapid preliminary check found nothing unusual.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as “sickening and shameful,” emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia. His comments come just days after the country passed stricter hate crime laws in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents.

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The video, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, appears to have been recorded in a hospital setting. In the footage, a man claiming to be a doctor tells Veifer he has “beautiful eyes” but adds, “I’m sorry you’re Israeli,” before making a throat-slitting gesture and stating he sends Israelis to “Jahannam” (an Islamic concept of hell). A woman later appears on screen, saying she refuses to treat Israelis and will “kill them” instead.

Despite the video being edited with emojis and censoring certain comments, authorities have not questioned its authenticity. NSW Police stated they have identified the individuals involved and are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.

Albanese vowed that anyone found guilty of committing hate crimes will “face the full force of our laws.” Park echoed this sentiment, apologizing to the Jewish community and reassuring them that NSW hospitals remain committed to providing “first-class” healthcare to all patients, regardless of background.

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

Coca-Cola has warned that it may have to increase the use of plastic bottles in the U.S. if President Donald Trump’s new tariffs make aluminium cans too expensive. The announcement was made by Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey during a call with investors.

Trump’s recent order imposes a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S., a move expected to raise costs for canned food and beverage manufacturers. Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola could shift more emphasis to PET plastic bottles to manage affordability.

“If aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles,” he said, while noting that packaging costs are only a small fraction of the company’s overall expenses.

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This shift comes shortly after Coca-Cola scaled back its sustainability goal of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, adjusting the target to 35-40% by 2035. The beverage giant has been under pressure from environmental groups, which have labeled it the world’s “top global plastic polluter” for six years in a row.

Aluminium cans, despite being pricier, are far more recyclable than plastic bottles. The U.S. imports nearly half of its aluminium, according to the United States Geological Survey, making the tariffs a significant factor in production costs. Unlike in 2018, when some can-makers received exemptions from similar tariffs, Trump has now ruled out any exceptions for products or countries.

In a separate move, Trump also signed an executive order rolling back efforts to replace plastic straws with paper alternatives in government facilities—undoing a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis.”

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