The Lagos State Government has reported an increase in deaths from the state’s cholera outbreak, rising from 15 to 21, with infections also climbing from 350 to 401 cases,Daily Trust reports.
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, attributed the rise in cases to the large gatherings during the Eid-el Kabir celebration. This update was provided by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs in the state’s Ministry of Health, on Thursday in Lagos.
Ogunyemi noted that the most affected areas are Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa, which recorded the highest numbers of infections. However, she mentioned that suspected cases are decreasing in several local government areas (LGAs) due to the state government’s interventions and surveillance efforts.
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She gave this update after meeting with members of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).
“The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), continues to collect samples from water sources, food, and beverages to identify the source of contamination.
“We have also intensified surveillance activities in communities, particularly in affected LGAs, to address the situation directly.
“We are working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, as well as the Ministry of Tertiary Education, to ensure all necessary precautions are taken in schools to protect students as they return.
“Residents must remain vigilant, practice good hand hygiene, and participate in community sanitation activities to stop the spread of cholera,” she said.
Ogunyemi urged citizens to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as watery diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, general malaise, and fever, adding that cholera treatment is provided free of charge at all public health facilities.
She reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing quality and affordable health care for Lagos residents.
Ogunyemi also commended local, national, and international partners, including UNICEF, WHO, NCDC, NIMR, and the Red Cross, for their support in combating the outbreak.
“Appreciation is also extended to the dedicated team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, environmental health officers, Water Corporation officers, surveillance officers, heads of agencies, members of PHEOC, and volunteers who are working tirelessly to combat the disease and keep Lagos safe,” Ogunyemi said.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Lagos alerted residents on June 11 about an excessive number of severe gastroenteritis cases. On June 15, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, confirmed that the outbreak was due to a highly aggressive and contagious strain of cholera, which has the potential for widespread transmission.
Abayomi reported that 350 suspected cases of cholera were identified in 29 wards across multiple LGAs, with 17 confirmed cases and 15 fatalities attributed to severe dehydration from delayed treatment.
Data from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that Nigeria recorded over 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera, resulting in over 30 deaths from January 1 to June 11, 2024, across 30 states. (NAN)
