Atleast Six persons, including a woman, have been reported dead following a new cholera outbreak in the Ologi community of Ogbia Local Government area of Bayelsa state.
President Jonathan hails from Ogbia LGA.
In critical condition were several persons, including women and children from the community.
The epidemic was earlier reported in Southern Ijaw and Sagbama LGAs with death toll hitting 30 in the two council areas.
Confirming the development to journalists on Thursday, the member representing Ogbia constituency II in the State House of Assembly, Obedient Emoto, said the cholera outbreak had thrown the affected community and its neighbour into confusion.
According to Mr. Emotor, the development sparked fear and brought suffering to the people.
He warned that unless urgent steps were taken, it could claim more lives as well as spread to neighbouring communities.The lawmaker appealed to the state Ministry of Health to urgently send epidemiologists, health personnel and drugs to curb the epidemic in the community.
However, an official of the ministry of health, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said health personnel and drugs had been dispatched to the area to contain the spread of the disease.
State health official, who could speak on the record, were not available for comments at the time of this report.