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Tag: cholera

  • Widespread cholera outbreak scare hits Bauchi

    Widespread cholera outbreak scare hits Bauchi

    Dr Ibrahim Kabir, an environmentalist and former Director-General of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), has raised an alarm over a possible cholera outbreak as the rainy season intensifies.

    In an interview with NAN on Thursday in Bauchi, Kabir urged residents to adopt strict hygiene and environmental safety measures to prevent an outbreak.

    He attributed the spread of cholera to poor sanitation and the consumption of contaminated food and water.

    “Cholera is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water, largely a result of poor sanitation,” he said.

    Kabir cautioned that even food or water that appeared clean could carry harmful bacteria if hygiene was compromised.

    He noted that pathogens could spread through air, water, animals, and footwear.

    He also highlighted that open defecation, especially in rural areas without proper toilet facilities, posed a significant threat.

    “When rain falls, fecal waste from open areas often washes into drinking water sources or food zones. This is how cholera spreads rapidly,” he explained.

    To prevent contamination, he advised that toilets should be built at least 10–15 meters away from wells or boreholes.

    “People don’t realise that their neighbour’s poor waste system can pollute their own water,” he warned.

    Kabir also urged residents to consult urban planning authorities before constructing homes, to ensure proper layouts and adherence to environmental safety standards.

    He noted that while chlorination of water helped, it must be combined with consistent hygiene practices such as regular handwashing, proper food covering, and safe waste disposal.

    He called on community leaders, health officials, and the media to ramp up public awareness campaigns.

    “Health and cleanliness go hand-in-hand. Prevention is cheaper than cure,” he emphasised.

  • Cholera still endemic in Nigeria – UNICEF

    Cholera still endemic in Nigeria – UNICEF

    The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Nigeria has the second highest cases of cholera outbreak in West and Central Africa.

    UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Gilles Fagninou, said on Wednesday that cholera outbreak in Nigeria had become endemic.

    “Cholera remains endemic in Nigeria, with the country experiencing recurrent major outbreaks in recent years.”

    “As of end of June, Nigeria recorded 3,109 suspected cholera cases and 86 deaths across 34 states,” Fagninou said.

    The UN official added that the figure made Nigeria the second most affected country in the West and Central Africa region.

    He noted that cholera outbreak in the West and Central African region posed crisis for children.

    He said some 80,000 children were estimated to be at high risk of cholera in West and Central Africa as the rainy season began across the region.

    According to him, the heavy rains, widespread flooding and the high level of displacement are all fuelling the risk of cholera transmission and putting the lives of children at risk.

    He explained that cholera was an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with bacteria. The disease can be treated with oral rehydration solution and antibiotics but can be fatal within hours if untreated.

    “Young children are particularly vulnerable to cholera due to factors such as poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation and access to safe water and a greater risk of severe dehydration.

    “The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the hardest hit country in the region, reporting more than 38,000 cases and 951 deaths in July.

    “Children under five years now account for nearly 26 per cent of cases in the DRC, and without stronger containment measures, they may face the worst cholera crisis since 2017, the UNICEF official said.

    He added that Chad, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo were also facing ongoing epidemics.

    Fagninou also said that Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic and Cameroon were also under close surveillance due to their vulnerability.

    He said that urgent and scaled-up efforts were needed to prevent further spread and contain the disease across the region.

    He revealed that UNICEF had delivered life saving health, water, hygiene and sanitation supplies as well as treatment facilities to communities since the outbreak.

    “The agency has also supported cholera vaccinations, scaled up preparedness and response efforts and encouraged families to seek timely treatment and improve their hygiene practices.

    “We are in a race against time, working hand in hand with the authorities to deliver essential healthcare, safe water and proper nutrition to children already at risk of deadly diseases and severe acute malnutrition,” Fagninou stressed.

    “Together with an array of partners, we are strengthening community engagement and extending our reach to remote and underserved areas, making every effort to ensure that no child is left behind,” Fagninou said.

    He added that UNICEF West and Central Africa urgently required $20 million over the next three months to scale up critical support in health, WASH, risk communication and community engagement.

  • BREAKING: Cholera outbreak claims 12 lives, 230 hospitalised in Niger

    BREAKING: Cholera outbreak claims 12 lives, 230 hospitalised in Niger

    A cholera outbreak in Niger State has claimed at least 12 lives and left more than 230 others hospitalised across several Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    The outbreak was first detected on Sunday in Shiroro Local Government Area. As of Wednesday, cases had spread to at least six LGAs, including Minna, Bosso, Shiroro, Magama, Bisa, and Munya.

    Healthcare officials said that 239 individuals had been affected and were currently receiving treatment at various primary healthcare centres in the impacted areas.

    In response, the state government had opened an isolation centre at the old wing of the Late Sen. Idris Kuta Primary Healthcare Centre in Minna.

    Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Ibrahim Dangana, confirmed that a multi-sectoral response team had been deployed to curb the spread of the disease.

    “We have established treatment and isolation centres in the affected LGAs to contain the outbreak.

    “Aggressive sensitisation campaigns are ongoing, targeting religious organisations like CAN and Islamic groups, as well as the eight emirates in the state,” Dangana said.

    He commended Gov. Mohammed Bago for his swift intervention and also appreciated the support of donor agencies.

    Also speaking, the Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Tertiary Healthcare, Dr Ibrahim Idris, identified Chanchaga, Minna, Bosso, and Shiroro as the worst-hit areas.

  • South Sudan’s cholera outbreak enters critical stage- WHO

    South Sudan’s cholera outbreak enters critical stage- WHO

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is working with health authorities in South Sudan and partners to scale up cholera prevention efforts, including a vaccination campaign.

    South Sudan – the world’s youngest country – is experiencing its worst and longest cholera outbreak on the eve of the fourteenth anniversary of its independence

    The outbreak – which started in September 2024 and was confirmed a month later – comes amidst a protracted humanitarian crisis exacerbated by rising intercommunal violence, climate shocks such as flooding and catastrophic hunger.

    “Now, more than ever, collective action is needed to reduce tensions, resolve political differences and make tangible progress in implementing peace,” Anita Kiki Gbeho, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan. said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Since the cholera outbreak was declared in October 2024, UN agencies and partners have documented over 80,000 cholera cases and 1,400 deaths.

    This is in addition to regional outbreaks of mpox, hepatitis, and measles among other communicable diseases.

    South Sudanese authorities, civil society, and UN agencies held an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday to discuss what they called an “alarming escalation” in the spread of the outbreak.

    “This is not merely a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services,” the ministers wrote in a communiqué released.

    The group resolved to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to areas which already have outbreaks and to other areas at risk for outbreaks. The Government of South Sudan will coordinate these efforts.

    Partners will also work to preposition materials, improve water and sanitation infrastructure and coordinate proactive and reactive vaccination campaigns.

    With the peak of the rainy season on the horizon, the next eight weeks are critical in containing and mitigating the outbreak before severe flooding begins.

    “Time is of the essence to prevent a further escalation of the outbreak,” the officials wrote.

    Floods more than double the frequency of cholera outbreaks by imperiling access to clean water and impeding humanitarian access to affected areas.
    With rising global temperatures making floods more severe, millions of South Sudanese who were not previously in regions of concern may now be at risk for cholera

    Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by consuming contaminated water or food.

    Although highly communicable, it is preventable through proper hygiene, regular handwashing, safe food preparation and storage, improved sanitation infrastructure, and vaccination.

    Symptoms typically include watery diarrhoea. Most cases are mild to moderate and can be treated effectively with oral rehydration salts (ORS) mixed with clean, boiled water.

    However, in severe cases, cholera can be fatal—sometimes within hours—if not treated promptly.

    Infected individuals can also transmit the disease through their faeces for up to ten days, even if they show no symptoms.

    In South Sudan, the already inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure and overstretched public health system has further deteriorated as a result of displacement and conflict.

    This has ripened the conditions for the spread of cholera.

    The UN and its partners are working quickly to preposition emergency supplies, especially in these previously low-risk areas, but they are hampered by funding shortfalls.

    Agencies estimate that they will need $1.69 billion – of which they have only received $368 million – to address the many intersecting humanitarian needs in the country.

    Nevertheless, the group of ministers insisted that this outbreak is and must remain a priority for all involved.

    “Cholera response and flood preparedness must be treated as urgent national priorities,” they said in the communiqué.

  • Patients dying: NGO raises alarm over U.S. aid cuts

    Patients dying: NGO raises alarm over U.S. aid cuts

    UK-based charity Save the Children on Wednesday reported that eight people in South Sudan, including five children, died during a three-hour walk to seek medical treatment for cholera.

    The charity attributed these deaths to the closure of local health services following cuts in U.S. aid.

    These cuts, imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump after he took office in January 2017, were part of his “America First” agenda, aimed at aligning grants with U.S. interests.

    Christopher Nyamandi, Save the Children’s country director in South Sudan, called for global moral outrage, stating, “The decisions made by powerful people in other countries have led to child deaths in just a matter of weeks.”

    Experts have warned that the cuts, including the cancellation of more than 90 per cent of USAID contracts, could lead to millions of deaths in the coming years due to malnutrition, AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases.

    The U.S. State Department stated that they did not have information on the deaths reported by Save the Children.

    A spokesperson confirmed that many U.S. government programmes remained active in South Sudan, but criticised the country’s leaders for using aid to enrich themselves, citing corruption concerns.

    Humanitarian aid in South Sudan is often routed through non-governmental organisations due to issues of corruption.

    Save the Children reported that it had supported 27 health facilities in eastern South Sudan’s Jonglei State before the U.S. aid cuts forced seven to close completely and 20 to shut partially.

    U.S.-funded transport services to take patients to the hospital also stopped, forcing the cholera patients to walk in nearly 40°C (104°F) heat.

    Three of the children who died were under the age of five, Nyamandi said. Beyond the U.S. cuts, reductions in aid from other donors have strained the country’s humanitarian response.

    Save the Children also mentioned a significant drop in its expected spending in South Sudan, forecasting 30 million dollars in 2025, down from 50 million dollars in previous years.

    Over a third of South Sudan’s population has been displaced by conflict or natural disasters, and the country faces the risk of renewed civil war, with fighting erupting in February in the northeast.

    The World Health Organisation declared a cholera outbreak in October 2024, with more than 22,000 cases recorded as of February, causing hundreds of deaths.

  • FG launches $124m cholera control initiative

    FG launches $124m cholera control initiative

    The Federal Government has launched the National Strategic Plan of Action on Cholera Control (NSPACC) 2025-2029, a 124 million dollars initiative aimed at eradicating cholera in Nigeria through a multi-sectoral approach.

    The plan was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja by Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who emphasised the government’s commitment to cholera prevention, preparedness, and response.

    The launch event, hosted in partnership with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and international health partners, marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to combat cholera and safeguard public health.

    Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Daju Kachallom, highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated response to combat frequent outbreaks across the country.

    “The Ministry of Health is working closely with other ministries and partners to implement this plan.

    “The plan is built on key pillars such as leadership and coordination, surveillance, case management, cholera vaccination, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), as well as public awareness and research,” he said.

    Pate stressed that eliminating cholera in Nigeria required collaboration among government agencies, development partners, private sector actors, and local communities.

    “Cholera has been eradicated in other parts of the world, why is it still affecting Nigeria? We must act collectively to change this reality,” he said.

    He urged stakeholders to commit to the plan’s implementation and ensure that the country builds resilient health and sanitation systems to prevent future outbreaks.

    Dr Jide Idris, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), noted that the NSPACC, led by the Ministries of Health, Water Resources, Sanitation, and Environment, aligned with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) and the Global Roadmap to Ending Cholera.

    Dr Jide Idris, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), noted that the NSPACC was led by the Ministries of Health, Water Resources, Sanitation, and Environment.

    He emphasised that the plan aligned with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) and the Global Roadmap to Ending Cholera.

    He pointed out that the plan identified 134 hotspot Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 21 states, which accounted for 71.1 per cent of cholera cases and 65.6 per cent of deaths, in spite of representing only 17.7 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

    He said the key interventions under the plan include scaling up Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) coverage, improving WASH infrastructure, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, enhancing laboratory capacity, and running public awareness campaigns on cholera prevention.

    Idris said the five-year plan required 124 million dollars, with an annual budget of 20 million dollars, primarily allocated to WASH initiatives, followed by OCV programmes and laboratory services.

    The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, represented by Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to expanding access to safe drinking water and improving sanitation to prevent cholera outbreaks.

    The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, represented by Mr Mahmud Kambari, emphasised the role of environmental health efforts in disease prevention, highlighting ongoing initiatives such as national sanitation programmes and environmental health surveillance.

    The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) launched the Ending Cholera: A Global Roadmap to 2030, aiming to reduce global cholera deaths by 90 per cent and eliminate the disease in at least 20 countries by 2030.

    In response, Nigeria developed NSPACC to accelerate cholera control by 2029 through prevention, timely detection, and a multi-sectoral approach.

    Following Nigeria’s commitment at the 71st and 75th World Health Assemblies, the Office of the Vice President was designated to coordinate the NSPACC and oversee the National Cholera Steering Committee (NCSC).

    The plan aims to reduce annual cholera incidence and deaths by 90 per cent and lower the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) to below 1 per cent by 2029.

    Developed through multi-stakeholder consultations, the NSPACC was finalised through workshops held in 2022 and 2023.

    A Validation Workshop in June 2023 finalised the plan, which was then endorsed by the GTFCC partnership.

    Structured around nine thematic pillars, the NSPACC focuses on Leadership & Coordination, Surveillance, Laboratory Strengthening, Case Management, OCV, WASH, Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE), Logistics, and Research.

    Stakeholders emphasised that this launch reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to cholera elimination through a coordinated, evidence-based, and well-funded approach.

  • Suspected cholera outbreak kills 9 in Rivers

    Suspected cholera outbreak kills 9 in Rivers

    The Rivers government has announced the death of nine individuals following a suspected cholera outbreak in Andoni and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas.

    Dr Ada Oreh, the state Commissioner for Health, confirmed the development on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

    She said that three deaths occurred in Andoni, while six others were recorded in Akuku-Toru, with 41 suspected cases currently under monitoring across the two areas.

    “We urge the public not to panic, as the state government has already implemented measures to contain this outbreak,” Oreh said.

    The commissioner noted that health officials were conducting tests to determine definitively whether the deaths were caused by cholera.

    She, however, said: “The symptoms observed align with the surveillance case definition for the disease.

    “The ministry is also investigating a suspected outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea caused by cholera in the Isiodun community in Andoni LGA. The symptoms analysed are consistent with cholera.”

    According to Oreh, the bacteria responsible for cholera thrives in environments lacking access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and hygienic conditions.

    She said that the bacteria could be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food and contact with infected surfaces.

    “Rivers is particularly prone to outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera during the dry seasons.

    “This poses significant public health challenges due to the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with such outbreaks.

    “The ministry, in collaboration with its partners and the authorities in Andoni LGA, has activated emergency response measures.

    “Our rapid response team has also been deployed to the affected areas to enhance disease surveillance, strengthen case detection in health facilities, and supply essential supplies to the communities,” Oreh stated.

    Oreh said the response team had distributed oral rehydration solutions, intravenous fluids, and vital medicines to health centres in the affected areas.

    She advised residents to practice frequent hand washing with soap and clean water, particularly before eating and after using the toilet.

    Oreh also urged them to drink only boiled or chorine-treated water to ensure safety.

  • USAID awards N1.72bn grant to combat cholera in Lagos

    USAID awards N1.72bn grant to combat cholera in Lagos

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Lagos Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (LUWASH) has awarded grants worth N1.72 billion to eight local organisations for interventions against cholera outbreak.

    The grants were awarded to the organisations at a two-day signing and onboarding workshop on Monday in Lagos. The workshop was organised to officially launch the grant activities and provide relevant orientation for the new grantees.

    The initiative was to support the state government’s effort to reduce cholera transmission, promote behavioural change and prevent future outbreaks.

    The grants were awarded under the Capacity Building, Research, and Advocacy Fund (CAREVO Fund) to enhance the operational and outreach capacity of Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) that provide WASH services, with a focus on communities underserved by public utilities.

    The organisations are: JAM Foundation, Equitable Health Access Initiative Nigeria, South Saharan Social Development Organisation, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development.

    Others are Women’s Right to Education Programme, Bread of Life Development Foundation, Society for Water and Sanitation, and Chamagne Foundation.

    The Chief of Party and USAID contractor for LUWASH, Mr James Racicot, urged the awardees to positively employ the grants to achieve the LUWASH objectives.

    Racicot noted that through the initiative, LUWASH aims to reduce cholera transmission, morbidity, and mortality rates in Lagos State.

    He added that it would promote behavioural change to prevent communicable diseases and improve WASH facilities in low-income communities.

    “We have no doubt that all of you will succeed with the proposals that you have submitted,” he said to the grantees,” he said.

    He noted that the grantees were selected because they were going to help achieve the overall outputs and objectives of the LUWASH activity.

    “So, we urge you, the grantee to take advantage of all the training and orientation that you will receive, because ultimately, we do not want to have issues with the management of the grants, but rather focus on the implementation and the success.

    “The LUWASH Activity is very serious about engaging prominent, enthusiastic, CBOs in Lagos and Nigeria and we plan to do that over the next few years as well.

    “The expectations for these organisations will feed into the LUWASH overall objectives of eradicating cholera outbreak in the Lagos State.

    “So, the USAID LUWASH activity has several components, including working on the infrastructure for the water supply, governance, and support to the institutional stakeholders.

    “But through the grants under contract programme, called the CAREVO fund, we are able to target specific needs that we have either seen recently or that has been on the ground for a few years,” Racicot said.

    Some of the awardees, however, reiterated their commitments in ensuring the objectives of USAID/LUWASH objectives were met.

    One of the awardees, Dr Mimidoo Achakpa of the Women’s Right to Education Programme, said her organisation would embark on increased advocacy to combat cholera outbreak with the  grant.

    “Basically, we are going to be working for different governments, meeting with the critical stakeholders, also building capacity and trainings and seminars to forestall cholera outbreaks.

    “So, our basic message would be that let us work together to achieve the goal of LUWASH. We continuously engage the communities we are working with. We will leave no one behind in the advocacy and we believe we will be able to attain the objectives of the programme,” Achakpa said.

    On his part, Mr Julius Akwashiki of JAM Foundation, another awardee, described the grant as an opportunity for his organisation to address feacal sludge in Lagos State.

    “With our programme, we want to speed up faecal sludge treatment in Oregun, Lagos, through our faecal sludge treatment plant.

    “We have realised that, over time, the faecal treatment plan has been left abandoned. It is an infrastructure that was built almost 60 years ago, and population had grown ever since then.

    “So, our own intervention is to make sure that sludge treatment is being enhanced, so that what is being discharged into the environment that has caused this huge health burden in Lagos is being taken care of from the source.

    “Definitely, accomplishing our project has been what we have been yearning for. We appreciate LUWASH for this opportunity,” Akwashiki said.

    Another awardee, Dr Timothy Akinmurele of Equitable Health Access Initiative, said the grant was an opportunity to increase advocacy against cholera outbreaks across seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.

    “Our project is called Communities Dimension for Addressing Cholera in Lagos through WASH. It is just targeted at seven affected LGAs in Lagos State, where we strategies to reach schools, marketplaces, motor parts and the communities with cholera prevention methods and commodities.

    “We want to ensure that we are able to address the cause of cholera and ensure that it does not reoccur. LUWASH is a very impactful project in terms of developmental outcomes and addressing cholera, because it goes to the heart of the public, getting to the communities.

    “It reaches to the communities to ensure that they understand what cholera is, what is causing it and also how to prevent it,” Akinmurele said.

  • Public Health: Oromoni mitigates cholera outbreak in Delta community

    Public Health: Oromoni mitigates cholera outbreak in Delta community

    Chairman of Warri South West Local Government Council, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, has taken immediate action to mitigate the impact of a suspected cholera outbreak in communities within the Escravos area.

    Following reports of 10 suspected cholera cases and two deaths in Egbekuta Community, Oromoni directed Vice Chairman of the Council, Hon. Christy Omamofe and the local government health team to visit the affected areas.

    The team, comprising Dr. Emiko Efuyaekpone, Head of Public Health; Mrs. Elohor Igbunuoghene, WHO representative; and LGA DSNO, sensitized residents on cholera prevention and provided medical supplies to Ogidigben General Hospital.

    Oromoni provided over 2,000 packs of clean drinking water and medical supplies to affected communities. Community leaders appealed for a standard primary health center, solar-powered water boreholes, and posting of doctors to the government hospital.

    The Chairman assured the community of his commitment to developing healthcare, education, and security, emphasizing that “only a healthy, educated, and secure people can build a wealthy society.”

    Health authorities urged residents to follow guidelines and take necessary precautions promptly, noting that treatment for children under five and pregnant women is free in all government hospitals and health centers.

    Community leaders in Ogidigben and Egbekuta ward 1 and 2 praised Oromoni’s timely response, citing it as an example of responsive governance.

  • BREAKING: Cholera hits Borno after flood disaster

    BREAKING: Cholera hits Borno after flood disaster

    The Borno State Government has announced the outbreak of cholera, an extremely serious disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof Baba Mallam Gana made the announcement at a press briefing in Maiduguri on Friday.

    Cholera is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It spreads also through contaminated food or water and affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated.

    The cholera outbreak in Borno is coming in light of the devastating flood disaster that struck Maiduguri metropolis and other surrounding local government areas (LGAs) recently.

    Although no death has been recorded, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services at the press briefing said out of the two hundred samples sent for testing, seventeen returned positive.

    Prof Gana attributed the outbreak to the recent flood disaster that ravaged parts of the State with Jere, Mafa, Konduga, Dikwa and MMC LGA making up the seventeen confirmed cholera cases.

    The State Government has, therefore, declared immediate response to control the outbreak as partners and humanitarian agencies like the WHO, MSF have put in place facilities to handle the suspected cases.

    The Commissioner also noted that about four hundred thousand vaccines have been made available.

    Cholera outbreak: 287,708 people vaccinated

    Meanwhile, Gana at the press briefing to officially declare the cholera outbreak in the State, revealed that no fewer than 287,708 people have been vaccinated against the disease.

    Gana said that the immunisation that started on September 25 was 96 per cent successful. The commissioner added that the proactive measures taken by the state and other stakeholders were responsible for the zero mortality recorded.

    “So far, no death was recorded out of the 17 confirmed cases from the most affected local government areas of Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, and Monguno. The state had received 300,000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) from the Federal Ministry of Health, which were distributed to displaced persons camps and flood-affected communities.

    “The state is still expecting an additional 600,000 doses of OCV. However, we are still recording an increasing number of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD), which is not unconnected with the flood devastation,” he said.

    The commissioner urged for precautionary measures by the public, particularly in areas of hygiene and sanitation. He charged the media to partner with the government in providing adequate awareness and preventive measures to the public.