October 05, (THEWILL) – The Borno State Government has announced a cholera outbreak following the confirmation of 17 cases by the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja.
At a media briefing in Maiduguri, the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Malam Gana, reported that out of 451 suspected cases, 148 samples were tested, with 17 returning positive results.
Gana, who confirmed that there have been no reported fatalities associated with the outbreak, named Maiduguri Metropolitan, Jere, Konduga, Mafa, and Monguno as the affected local government areas.
The Commissioner attributed the outbreak to the recent flood disaster which has contaminated water sources and sanitation facilities in the metropolis.
“While Borno State Ministry of Health in collaboration with NCDC, WHO, UNICEF, MSF, ALIMA, IRC and other Partners recorded 451 cases, tested 148 samples, results show 20 RDT negative, 128 RDT positive, with 17 culture Positive for Vibrio Cholerae, and zero mortality (CFR:0 %). The LGAs mostly affected are MMC, Jere, Konduga, Mafa and Monguno.
“At this stage, I wish to categorically inform the good people of Borno state and the media that we are having a cholera outbreak in the state which is highly contagious and can be transmitted via fecal-oral route with an approximate incubation period of 2-5 days,” Gana stated.
The Commissioner of Health also confirmed that the state has received 300,000 doses of cholera vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Health and has so far vaccinated over 287,000 people mostly women and children in IDP camps.
He said the state is awaiting additional 600,000 doses which will greatly help in minimising cases of cholera in the state.
“We know that with the floods that we had in Maiduguri, cholera is one of the waterborne diseases that we were expecting, and we were prepared, we started the vaccination, and that is the degree of level of preparation.
“We’ve also had all our staff well educated about cholera, and we set up three to four places within Maiduguri, where cholera cases can be attended to,” he said.
Gana called on the people of the state to imbibe the culture of personal and environmental hygiene to curb the spread of the disease.
