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• States activate emergency measures, say no cause for alarm
• How to prevent disease – Health commissioners, epidemiologists
There is anxiety in some states of the country over rising cases of cholera outbreak.
Fears heightened when the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced that cholera is prevalent in 30 states of the federation. It sounded even more alarming when last Thursday the Lagos State government announced that it had recorded 401 cases while the death toll had risen to 21.
In neighbouring Ogun State and beyond, several cases have also been recorded. But across the country, measures are being put in place by state governments and agencies to contain the spread.
In this special report, our correspondents filed in situation reports from many parts of the country.
Lagos
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that the total number of cholera cases increased to 417 across Lagos, with the death toll rising to 24 from the previously reported 21 fatalities.
Our correspondent, Doris Obinna reports that from 401 suspected cases and 21 fatalities, the situation report as at June 19, indicates 417 suspected cases, 35 confirmed cases and a total of 24 deaths, according to Abayomi.
The commissioner who gave the update on his X handle on Friday also said that cases were spread across 20 local government areas of the state with Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa recording the highest numbers.
He urged Nigerians to adhere strictly to personal and environmental hygiene.
“Drink safe water, cook food thoroughly, maintain personal hygiene, wash hands regularly, use sanitiser, and avoid over crowded places. Reporting symptoms like watery diarrhea or vomiting immediately is also crucial, to save lives and prevent transmission to other members of the community. Treatment for suspected cholera is provided free of charge at all government facilities as part of governments standard public health response,” Abayomi advised.
Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi stated that a rise in cases was anticipated following the Eld-el-Kabir celebration during which large gatherings occurred. She, however, explained that suspected cases are subsiding across LGAs particularly in previously affected areas due to state government interventions and surveillance efforts.
“The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and its agency, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, continues to collect samples of water sources, food, and beverages to identify the source of contamination. We have also intensified our surveillance activities in communities, particularly in affected local government areas, to address the situation head-on.”
Oyo
In Oyo State, Oluseye Ojo reports that health authorities have reported three suspected cases of the deadly disease. The cases were discovered in private health facilities, according to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi. While the cases are still under investigation, the state government has swiftly swung into action to prevent a potential outbreak.
“There is no cause for alarm as the ministry and other partners are on top of the situation,” Dr Ajetunmobi reassured during a visit to one of the affected private hospitals in Ibadan. The suspected cases were traced back to male construction workers who recently arrived in Ibadan from Lagos. The state government has deployed disease surveillance officers, launched public awareness campaigns, and activated its isolation and management facilities.
“The response efforts include; the deployment of LGA DSNO, promotional jingles in English and Yoruba running in different media houses, immediate inauguration of the Cholera Technical Working Group, putting IDC Olodo into active mode for isolation and management, reaching out to all our surveillance rangers at the LGA level to intensify surveillance activities, re-posting of cholera case definition on the platform of community informants for updates, awareness, and sensitization of the gatekeepers and other well-established community structures,” she stated. The commissioner has also appealed to residents to practice good hygiene and seek immediate medical attention if they experience cholera-like symptoms.
Ondo
From Akure, Bamigbola Gbolagunte, reports that two cases of cholera were discovered early this year in the state. The two cases, according to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, were discovered in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state. However, the government said the two cases were curtailed by the efforts of the state Ministry of Health. The Commissioner said the state government has put some safety measures in place to combat the spread of cholera in all the communities in the state. Ajaka said the government has also activated its surveillance for immediate response to any case of cholera in the state.
He said the state had strengthened the rapid response team, which comprises primary health care coordinators, laboratory focal persons and disease surveillance officers in the three senatorial districts of the state.
Ogun
In Ogun State, a 62-year-old woman in Ijebu-Igbo was reported to have died of cholera. Saturday Sun gathered that the outbreak, which occurred a few days ago, also left five other persons hospitalised.
The victim, it was gathered, contracted the disease from her son who is now among those hospitalised. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwatomi Coker, confirmed the incident. Coker said 14 cases of cholera had been reported from four local government areas – Ota, Abeokuta South, Obafemi Owode and Ijebu North. According to her, five other persons had also been hospitalised. The cumulative total cases since last week are 14 with one fatality”, Coker said. She urged residents of the state to maintain good hygiene and avoid drinking water from unknown sources.
Enugu
In Enugu State, Jude Chinedu quotes the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, as saying that the state had not recorded any incidence of cholera outbreak in any part.
Speaking with Saturday Sun, Obi said in spite of that, the state government has set up emergency response centres in selected health facilities across the state to ensure a quick and rapid response in case of an outbreak.
“I can tell you assuredly there is no case of cholera reported in Enugu as at this time. It does not mean that we are not on standby. Our Integrated Disease Surveillance is on and continuous because there is a cholera outbreak affecting more than 30 states with the deaths that have been recorded.
“We have immediately started our emergency operations centre for the cholera outbreak. And we have prepositioned response resources around the state in specific hospitals so that if there is any response it will be quick and rapid. That is the level of preparedness that we have.
“The Ministry of Health is on continuous surveillance for all the disease conditions of public health importance in Enugu State. It is something we do routinely. We have the department that handles it. And we are operating what is called the Integrated Disease Surveillance Response. It is implemented in Enugu and it is ongoing,” he said.
Ebonyi
The Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, Dr Moses Ekuma did not respond to some of the questions our Correspondent asked him regarding the disease. The State Disease Notification Officer, Sampson Orogwu was also contacted but he preferred that our correspondent should get clearance from the Commissioner for Health before he could speak on the disease.
“I am under authority, please contact the Commissioner for Health who will direct me to speak to you,” he said.
The state in 2022 and 2023 recorded cholera outbreak in Ezillo, Ishielu, Akpoha, Afikpo, Iboko in Izzi local government area, Ngbo, Ohaukwu, some places in Ikwo local government area and other parts of the state.
Many lives were lost during the outbreak of the disease then. In some of the health facilities in the state like Afikpo, visited by our correspondent, Wilson Okereke, there was no reported case of cholera. Health workers attributed the success to the health talks with the members of the public during Ante-Natal Care and immunizations, explaining that cholera is a waterborne disease spread by contaminated fluids or water and if left untreated could lead to death within some hours.
Kano
Although there has been no reported case of cholera in Kano State, the Ministry of Health says it has taken cognizance of the prevalence of the disease on other states of Nigeria and has intensified its sensitization programme to residents of the state.
Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, Commissioner for Health in the state, appealed to residents to be cautious of the use of harvested rain water for drinking and other domestic purposes. In a statement, the commissioner said that the rainy season comes up with cholera complications which some states in the country have already fallen victims to, hence, he says, it became necessary to warn and remind the people that prevention is better than cure.
Labaran explained further that it is a must for people to always examine what they take, most importantly vegetables, fruits and drinking water, emphasizing that people need to be wary in this regard in order to protect themselves from taking contaminated food or water.
Kwara
Our correspondent, Layi Olanrewaju reports that in Kwara State, there has been no report of cholera in any part of the state. The state’s Epidemiologist, Dr. Mrs. Kamardeen who spoke on phone with Saturday Sun, said that the ministry has started sensitization and various campaigns on the radio and television on the need for the residents to imbibe personal hygiene in all they are doing to forestall any epidemic and how to make their water safe before drinking. This campaign is extended to various hospitals in the state where patients are trained on the new ways to live hygienic life to stem infections.
“Cholera is a waterborne disease that emerges from a bacterium called vibrio cholerae. Once someone contracts the disease, s/he can experience symptoms ranging from extreme dehydration to diarrhoea, to vomiting.
Poor sewage treatment and lack of treatment of drinking water, a trademark challenge in most Nigerian states greatly facilitates the spread of cholera. She disclosed that the rapid response team of the ministry had swung into action since when the case was reported in neighbouring states
She said that the state government had made drugs available at the various primary health care centres in all the local government areas, adding that the ministry had put measures in place to prevent its spread precisely in the densely populated areas of the state.
Cross River
The Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, Dr. Henry Ayuk, said the state had activated an emergency response team to respond to any threat of cholera outbreak in the state.
The commissioner, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, said although the state had not witnessed any cholera cases since the current outbreak was reported, there was one recorded death associated with cholera around March 2024.
He added: “There was an outbreak of the disease in Obubura and Biase local government areas between February and April, with one death recorded during the outbreak.
“That was about the only time we had a case of cholera outbreak in this state.”
Imo
Our correspondent in Owerri, Imo State capital, Stanley Uzoaru, reports that there were 28 suspected cases that later came out negative according to the state Commissioner for Primary health, Social Services and Insurance, Prosper Ohayagha. In a bid to avert the occurrence, health workers in the state have been mobilized to go about sensitising the public.
“We are sensitizing the populace as the most important thing is personal hygiene. Health care workers are being trained to stop any Cholera outbreak.” Ohayagha said.
Benue
So far, there has been no outbreak or case of cholera in Benue State. Correspondent, Scholastica Hir, reports that the state government is currently sensitizing the people on the mode of transmission, how to prevent the disease and what they should do in case of any occurrence. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, said: “We have told them that in case of any eventuality they should report to the nearest health centre where they can be managed in terms of giving oral hydration and other medications.
“We are also having a conversation with healthcare workers to increase their surveillance to some of the places we had outbreaks in the past and places that were of high risk in the past. “So we are doing risk communication, sensitization, ensuring early detection and trying to be prepared in case we have any case so that we don’t have any deaths.”
Kebbi
In Kebbi State, state government has said that they have not received any outbreak of cholera officially in the state.
Our correspondent in Birnin Kebbi, Olanrewaju Lawal, quotes the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Ismail, as having said that despite that there has been no record of cholera so far, the state government has deployed it’s health officials to the villages and towns to start sensitizing people on what kind of water to drink and how to prevent cholera and other diseases that could be contracted through water.
Kaduna
Kaduna State government has taken preventive measures against possible outbreak of the disease.
Our Kaduna State Correspondent, Noah Ebije, reports that the state’s Epidemiologist, Dr Jeremiah Daikwo, explained that the state has prepared for any eventuality by ensuring that wells in hot spot areas are chlorinated.
Dr Daikwo added that a rapid response team has been drafted to the 23 local government areas of the state, just as he disclosed that the state had taken delivery of some drugs in readiness for any outbreak. “There is no case of cholera outbreak in Kaduna State yet. In preparedness, we are working in collaboration with the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) to see how we can chlorinate all the wells in hot spot areas.
Anambra
From Awka, Emmanuel Uzor reports that the Anambra State government has declared that it has recorded zero cases of the deadly disease.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike said the state had taken precautionary measures to ensure safety of the residents of the state. He said the state government through robust advocacy and sensitization programmes achieved the zero case of cholera by reaching out to residents of the state especially those in rural areas to maintain personal hygiene.
“What we did was to ensure that people are taught how to maintain clean environment and personal hygiene. You also know that the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, started by sinking boreholes across the state and people have access to clean, drinking water. We also engaged the media through our outreach sensitization to teach people to boil their water before drinking. We also encouraged them to be very conscious of what and where they eat.
Taraba
The government of Taraba State has said that it is on red alert. Correspondent Sylvanus Viashima, reports from Jalingo that Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bordiya Gbansheya Buma has disclosed that so far there is no case of cholera in the state since the recent outbreak of the disease across the country.
The state government had already carried out wide sensitization for both health workers and various communities on early identification of symptoms and has put in place machinery to tackle any outbreak with the hope of stopping a possible spread. The commissioner explained that the state government recently distributed ambulances to all the wards across the state to tackle any kind of health emergency especially contagious disease such as cholera, Lassa Fever and others.
Bayelsa
From Yenagoa, Femi Folaranmi, reports that the state government is monitoring suspected cases of cholera with an active surveillance team in place. Though a report from the NCDC had listed Bayelsa as one of the states where there is an outbreak, recent findings have punctured such claims. The Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health in the state, Dr. Stow Jones, said the state government had protested the NCDC report with counter data which has now forced NCDC to correct itself on the status of Bayelsa.
Investigations by Saturday Sun indicated that since January there have been 449 suspected cases of acute water diarrhoea in persons aged two years and above from the state surveillance team across the eight local government areas of the state. Health officials used the Rapid Diagnostic Tests, RDT on 42 suspected cases, 14 returned positive while nine culture tests which are the gold standard for cholera, conducted so far have returned negative.
Crucially, with the culture tests conducted no Vibrio cholera 01 or 013 were found from the culture test, indicating that there is no outbreak of cholera.
Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health Prof. Augustine Umo has doused tension in the state over the reported cases of cholera outbreak. Umoh said there is no reported case of the disease in the state.
He therefore urged residents of the state not to panic as everything has been put in place to check the disease from spreading in the event that it breaks out in the state. “No report or case of cholera found in Akwa Ibom state as at this moment,”he told Saturday Sun’s Isaac Job.
“Steps have been taken to control it. These steps include enlightenment, active case search by SDNOs and Epidemiology unit, health facilities on alert as well as continuous emergency preparation,” he said.
Edo
As the news continues to make the rounds over cholera outbreak, Edo State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Samuel Alli has disclosed that the state has not recorded any cases. He said the state has kept its eyes open to ensure that the situation is arrested at any given point in time.
“The state currently is in a watch mode and has a strong surveillance system in place in case of any suspected cases of cholera.
“All healthcare workers in different health facilities are continuously being sensitized to maintain a high index of suspicion for cholera in facilities across the state, including campaigns on strategies for prevention and response,” Dr. Alli said.
Osun
In Osun State, the government says it had intensified sensitisation among the people to prevent the outbreak of cholera.
Jola Akintola, the Commissioner for Health, outlined measures so far put in place by the state government to prevent the outbreak of the disease. It was gathered that sensitization efforts have been carried out in some public places including markets and motor parks.
Even though efforts are on-going to prevent the outbreak of the disease, the state government told Saturday Sun’s Lateef Dada that no case of cholera has been reported so far.
Ekiti
Ekiti State Epidemiologist, Bosede Alowooye, told our correspondent, Priscilla Ediare that the state currently does not have any confirmed cholera case.
“However, our Rapid Response Team is on active case search at health centres and community informants are also on alert for cases at the community level. “Our teams are also conducting market sensitization across the state. We have taken delivery of essential response commodities, which we are distributing to the identified treatment centres.
“The Honorable Commissioner issued a Public Health Advisory over the weekend and airing of radio and television jingles have commenced. We are also collaborating with other relevant ministries and parastatals like the Ministry of Environment, the WHO etc. to provide a multi-sectoral response.”
Rivers
Rivers State Government has disclosed that there is no active case of cholera record in the state, though there was a suspected case in Ngo community in Andoni Local Government Area of the state recently.
Correspondent, Tony John, quotes the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, as having said this in a voice note sent to newsmen in Port Harcourt. She said the information became necessary following recent nationwide reports about cholera outbreaks across some of the states in the country.
“On the 9th of June, 2024, the Rivers State Public Health Emergency Operation Centre received notification of some suspected cases of cholera at Ngo in Andoni Local Government Area of the state.
“The Rivers State Public Health Emergency Operation Centre was further notified of two associated deaths in the community with similar symptoms by the local government area rapid response team led by the state disease surveillance and notification officer.”
Bauchi
The Bauchí State Primary Health Care Board Executive Board has responded to the cholera outbreak in the state.
The Executive Chairman, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed that samples collected from some local governments came out negative. Mohammed revealed that 33 samples were collected from Giade LGA, two from Toro LGA and three from Ningi.
“All samples were negative based on investigation carried out by the epidemiology unit,” he said Dr Mohammed disclosed that the board in collaboration with the state ministry of Housing and Environment are working round the clock to ensure a clean environment to prevent outbreak of the disease.
Plateau
Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Cletus Shurkuk has disclosed that the state has not recorded any cases of cholera outbreak in the state yet. He said the ministry has activated her emergency response team in case of any eventuality as well as placed it’s monitoring team on alert towards averting
Shurkuk stated this on Friday in a telephone interview with Saturday Sun in Jos the State capital. His words: “Plateau has not recorded any cases of cholera outbreak yet, we are on the look and have activated all our emergency response team in case of any eventuality,” he stated The Plateau State Epidemiologist, Dr. Job Maren advised citizens of the state to embrace all forms of hands hygiene and clean their environment.
