National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Lilian Edward: Lagos
Lagos State Health Commissioner, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has confirmed that the recent disease outbreak in the state is due to a highly contagious strain of cholera.
Laboratory tests have identified this strain as particularly aggressive and capable of rapid spread.
Abayomi shared this update on his Instagram page @profakinabayomi on Monday, emphasising the urgency of the situation.
Cholera, a disease spread through contaminated food and water, can cause severe acute watery diarrhea and, in extreme cases, can be fatal within hours if untreated.
In Nigeria, cholera is a recurrent issue, especially during the rainy season, and is more prevalent in areas with inadequate sanitation.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has also issued a warning about the increasing trend of cholera cases with the intensifying rainy season.
The NCDC identified ten states that contribute 90% of the current cholera outbreak: Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos.
Globally, cholera cases have surged. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 473,000 cases in 2022, a significant increase from 2021, with an estimated rise to 700,000 cases in 2023.
The latest WHO data shows 145,900 cholera cases and 1,766 deaths reported across 24 countries, with Africa bearing the highest burden.
In Lagos, community-based case finding and contact tracing have led to a peak and now a decline in cases.
The epicentre of the outbreak in Lagos is Lagos Island with 106 cases, followed by Kosofe (49), Eti-Osa (38), Lagos Mainland (30), Ojo (17), Ikorodu (16), and other areas.
Support is being provided by the NCDC, WHO, and UNICEF, along with local NGOs that are raising awareness and conducting community-based surveillance.
The state is ramping up public health campaigns to mitigate transmission risks from gatherings and catering services.
Prof. Abayomi assured that suspected cases are receiving free treatment at public health facilities in accordance with health response protocols.
Photos: The Lagos State Health Commissioner, Prof Akin Adebayo confirming test results, in the Laboratory.
