June 24, (THEWILL) – The Lagos State government, on Monday, said the total number of deaths recorded in the ongoing cholera outbreak in the state has climbed to 29.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who made this known at a press conference held at Alausa, Ikeja, said the fatalities occurred among the 579 patients that were attended to in various healthcare facilities in the state, including General and Private hospitals, as well as primary healthcare centres.
Prof. Abayomi attributed majority of the deaths to patients presenting themselves late at the hospitals as they could not be rehydrated anymore, with some of them brought in dead.
The Commissioner, however, assured that the state government was in control of the situation as he recalled that the outbreak, which was first reported early in the month, had slowed down in reported number of cases as of June 22, 2024, with “only one case reported” as of Sunday, June 23.
“The treatment is free in our hospitals and healthcare facilities to slow down the transmission. We go out also to search for the patients and those that the patients might have been in contact with. As of June 22, 2024, the number has tried to come down. As of yesterday, it was only one reported case”, he said.
Prof. Abayomi also disclosed that no case had so far been reported in the state school environment since resumption.
Maintaining that the state government was yet to identify the source of the disease, Abayomi urged residents to continue to adhere to safe drinking water, ensuring food is well cooked before eating as well as a hygienic environment and regular hand washing.
