No fewer than 100 persons are feared dead as a water borne disease, confirmed to be cholera, ravaged the entire five local government areas of Adamawa Southern Senatorial Zone: Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Mubi North and Mubi South. A similar outbreak in May and June left over 200 persons dead, and the zone declared epidemic disaster area. Local community sources disclosed to Vanguard weekend in Yola that the outbreak of the disease this time around was first noticed penultimate Thursday, and had engulfed the entire five local government areas as at yesterday.

According to the sources, the spread of the disease looks was very fast as the epidemic looked like it was being spread by the wind.

He said the general perception is that the disease is being spread by the wind.

Sources at the ministry, however, told Vanguard that the current outbreak might be the left over of the previous ones which has not been properly handled to prevent the re-occurrence.

Pfizer was sued in Nigeria after reports that it had tested an experimental antibiotic called Trovan on 100 children during a 1996 meningitis epidemic. Another 100 children were given an approved antibiotic, ceftriaxone. Families later charged they had not been properly informed and that the standard antibiotic dose was too low. Some children died and others suffered brain damage, paralysis, deafness or blindness during the trial, first disclosed by The Washington Post.