Cholera outbreak has been declared in Yobe State, Nigeria, with 132 cases and nine deaths in five local government areas. Commissioner of Health and Human Services Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana announced the outbreak, identifying the affected areas as Gubja, Fune, Machina, Nangere, and Nguru.
According to Dr. Gana, “A total of 132 cholera cases were recorded as of September 25, 2024; unfortunately, we lost nine patients, which is a case fatality rate of 6.8%, mainly due to delays in reporting to the health facilities for lifesaving treatment”. He also reported that 11 cases are currently on admission, while 112 patients have been treated and discharged.
The cholera outbreak has prompted the Yobe State Government to call for urgent action from health sector partners, religious and traditional leaders, and citizens to combat the spread of the disease. Dr. Gana emphasized, “The declaration of a cholera outbreak in the state is now a clarion call on all… to join hands with the Yobe State Ministry of Health… to curb the menace within the shortest possible time”.
Dr. Gana urged international, national, and local partners to provide their expertise to support the cholera response effort in the state. This collaborative effort aims to address the outbreak and prevent further deaths.
The cholera outbreak in Yobe State is not an isolated incident, as the region has experienced similar outbreaks in the past. In 2018, a cholera outbreak claimed 61 lives and infected 906 people in six local government areas .
