The number of suspected cholera cases in Lagos State has surged to 421, according to the latest update from the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi. Announcing the development on his Instagram handle @profakinabayomi on Saturday, Abayomi highlighted the alarming rise in cases.
“As of June 20, 2024, an additional four suspected cholera cases have been reported, as illustrated in the accompanying graph,” he wrote.
Abayomi noted that the Emergency Operations Centre, in collaboration with relevant partners, is intensifying efforts in contact tracing, community-based surveillance, awareness campaigns, sample testing, and ensuring that confirmed cholera cases receive appropriate medical treatment.
On Friday, the commissioner confirmed that 35 out of the 417 suspected cases had been verified, with 24 deaths recorded across 20 Local Government Areas in the state. The affected areas include Agege, Badagry, Ikeja, Mushin, Ajeromi-Ifelofun, Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Alimosho, and Eti-Osa, as well as Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Apapa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos Mainland, and Surulere.
Cholera, a food and water-borne disease caused by ingesting Vibrio cholerae bacteria in contaminated water and food, can lead to severe acute watery diarrhoea. In severe cases, the disease can be fatal within hours if left untreated. In Nigeria, cholera is endemic and seasonal, occurring primarily during the rainy season, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation.
This outbreak in Lagos is part of a broader global trend. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently reported a spike in cholera cases worldwide, with nearly 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths across 24 countries since the start of 2024. The Eastern Mediterranean Region has reported the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Notably, no cases have been reported in the Western Region.
WHO revealed that it exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines by March but managed to exceed the emergency target of five million doses in early June for the first time this year.
As Lagos grapples with this health crisis, authorities are urging residents to adhere to hygiene practices, use clean water, and report any suspected cases to health officials promptly. The efforts to contain and combat the outbreak are ongoing, with a focus on mitigating the impact and preventing further spread.
