Cholera Outbreak: Lagos Records 21 Deaths as Cases Surge to Over 400
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, has witnessed steep rise in the reported cases of Cholera which has resulted in 21 fatalities, according to a recent update from the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
The statement, released on Thursday and signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, indicated that the hardest-hit areas are Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa. The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, provided the latest figures, revealing an increase from the previously reported 350 cases and 15 deaths.
“Following the last update on the cholera outbreak in Lagos, which reported 350 suspected cases and 15 fatalities, the total number of cholera cases has increased to 401 across Lagos, with Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa recording the highest numbers,” Dr. Ogunyemi disclosed.
The rise in cholera cases was anticipated in the aftermath of the Ileya festivities, characterised by large gatherings, according to Dr. Ogunyemi. However, she noted a decline in suspected cases across Local Government Areas due to the state government’s interventions and surveillance efforts.
“Suspected cases are subsiding across Local Government Areas, particularly in previously affected LGAs, due to the state government’s interventions and surveillance efforts,” she added.
The state government, through the Ministry of Health and other agencies, is maintaining rigorous surveillance and monitoring. The Ministry is actively collecting samples of water, food, and beverages to identify sources of contamination.
“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,” Dr. Ogunyemi stated.
She emphasized the importance of good hand hygiene and community sanitation activities in curbing the spread of cholera and urged citizens to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as watery diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, general malaise, and fever. Treatment for cholera is provided free of charge at all public health facilities.
Dr. Ogunyemi also highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of students as schools reopen.
“We are also working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education as well as the Ministry of Tertiary Education to ensure all precautions are taken in our schools to protect children and scholars as they return,” she noted.
Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, which is typically found in contaminated water and food. The contamination often occurs through the faeces of infected individuals, and the disease is particularly prevalent in areas with inadequate sanitation facilities or a lack of clean water supply.
