In a concerning development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has disclosed that 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis caused by cholera have been reported at the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison.
This comes just weeks after the Nigerian Correctional Service claimed that custodial centers nationwide were free of the disease.
Abayomi stated that urgent medical and environmental measures have been implemented to address the outbreak. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has also recorded 118 suspected cholera cases in Katsina State.
Across Nigeria, the NCDC data shows that as of June 24, 2024, there were 1,528 suspected cholera cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 53 deaths across 107 local government areas in 31 states, reflecting a case fatality rate of 3.5%.
To combat the spread, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a multi-sectoral cabinet committee on the control of the epidemic, headed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.
Addressing the source of the outbreak, Abayomi said it had been traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supply. Many samples taken from popular street beverages confirmed the presence of the cholera-causing vibrio cholerae bacteria, with the products lacking the required NAFDAC accreditation.
The Lagos commissioner expressed optimism that with continued collaboration and vigilance from all stakeholders, the state is taking decisive actions to combat and control the cholera outbreak. Similarly, in Katsina, the state’s Primary Healthcare Development Agency reported that the 118 suspected cases have returned negative, and the state remains prepared to respond to any future outbreaks.
The news highlights the ongoing challenges in containing cholera, a preventable and treatable disease, and the need for sustained efforts to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions, as well as strengthen disease surveillance and response mechanisms across Nigeria.
Kano State in Nigeria has not reported any cases of cholera at this time, contrary to previous reports that listed the state as being affected by a cholera outbreak.
The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, has stated categorically that there are no cholera cases in the state currently. The state government has taken proactive measures, including setting up an emergency response committee and launching public awareness campaigns on hygiene and sanitation.
The Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Muhammad Abbas, has urged the public to take cholera seriously due to its potential fatal consequences.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has expressed concern over the threat to water safety in Nigeria, which can lead to outbreaks of water-borne diseases like cholera. The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, has called for improved waste management and the elimination of open defecation to prevent water contamination.
The Ogun State Waste Management Authority has also appealed to residents to properly containerize their waste to help curb the spread of diseases like choler.
While cholera remains a concern in Nigeria, the situation in Kano State appears to be under control currently, with the state government taking proactive measures to prevent an outbreak. The NCDC and other authorities continue to emphasize the importance of proper sanitation and waste management to address the underlying factors that contribute to the spread of water-borne diseases.
