- FG Orders Water Analysis as Cholera Outbreak Spreads in Lagos, Ogun
- Osun, Cross River Activate Emergency Response; Five Hospitalized
No fewer than 37 deaths have been recorded in the ongoing cholera outbreak affecting 30 states, including Lagos and Ogun.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, announced in a statement on Thursday that Lagos had recorded an additional six cholera deaths, raising the toll from 15 to 21. She also reported that cholera cases in the state had risen to 401.
In Ogun State, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, confirmed one death and 14 cases. A 62-year-old woman in Ijebu-Igbo contracted cholera from her son, who is among those hospitalized. Four local government areas—Ota, Abeokuta South, Obafemi Owode, and Ijebu North—reported cases.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent report indicated over 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera from January 1 to June 11, 2024, resulting in more than 30 deaths across 96 local government areas in 30 states.
Protests are ongoing, and international organizations like the WHO, UNICEF, and IOM have held emergency meetings in Lagos. Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, can lead to severe watery diarrhea and death if untreated. The disease is endemic and seasonal in Nigeria, typically occurring during the rainy season in areas with poor sanitation.
In Lagos, Dr. Ogunyemi stated that Lagos Island remained the epicenter, with Kosofe and Eti Osa also heavily affected. She noted that the rise in cases was anticipated following the Sallah festivities. The government is maintaining rigorous surveillance and intervention efforts.
In Ogun, Dr. Coker urged residents to maintain good hygiene and report any suspected cases. The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is conducting water quality analyses to investigate the outbreak. Teams from National Water Quality Reference Laboratories in Lagos, Enugu, and Sokoto are collecting water samples.
The Cross River State Health Commissioner, Dr. Henry Ayuk, confirmed that an emergency response team is on standby despite no current cases. In Osun State, Commissioner for Health Jola Akintola reported intensified sensitization efforts to prevent an outbreak.
The NGO Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) called for addressing underlying issues like inadequate sanitary facilities and unsafe water to curb the spread of cholera. CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, emphasized the importance of effective public water and sanitation management.
State governments are advised to continue public education on cholera prevention and treatment, emphasizing the importance of hygiene and safe drinking water.
