The Lagos State government announced that laboratory tests have confirmed the recent disease outbreak in the state is cholera.
According to the State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, the identified strain is highly aggressive and contagious, with significant potential for widespread dissemination.
The commissioner shared this on his Instagram page @profakinabayomi on Monday while providing an update on the cholera outbreak in the state.
He noted that community-based case finding and contact tracing have led to a peak in the number of cases, which is now declining.
The geographical distribution of suspected cases by LGAs showed that Lagos Island is the epicentre of the outbreak with 106 cases; followed by Kosofe 49; Eti-Osa 38; Lagos mainland 30; Ojo 17; Ikorodu 16; Kosofe 16; Shomolu 11.
Others are Surulere -nine; Apapa -eight; Mushin -eight; Ifako Ijaiye -eight; Mushin -five; Alimosho -four; Ajeromi Ifelodun -four; Oshodi-Isolo -three; Ikeja three; Ibeju Lekki -two; Badagry -two; Amuwo-Odofin -one.
He, however, disclosed that there are 17 confirmed cases out of 350 suspected cases and 15 deaths so far.
The commissioner said the State government is receiving support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and international partners, including the WHO and UNICEF.
“Local NGOs are actively raising awareness and conducting community-based surveillance efforts,” he said.
He noted that the state is intensifying its public health campaigns in light of the Sallah celebrations and the associated transmission risks from gatherings and catering services, to prevent a resurgence.
“Suspected cases are receiving free treatment at our public health facilities, in line with public health response protocols,” he said.
Cholera outbreak
Cholera is a highly contagious disease transmitted through contaminated food and water. It spreads directly by consuming contaminated food or water and indirectly through poor sanitation and inadequate handwashing.
Symptoms of cholera include sudden onset of acute, painless watery diarrhea, which may be accompanied by vomiting, nausea, and fever.
The NCDC said severe cases of cholera can result in death within hours due to dehydration.
However, about 80 per cent of infected individuals may exhibit mild symptoms or remain asymptomatic.
The NCDC highlighted that ten states—Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos—account for 90 per cent of the cholera burden.
There were 473,000 cholera cases reported to WHO in 2022 – double the number from 2021. A further increase of cases by 700,000 was estimated in 2023.
Latest data from WHO shows that 24 countries across five WHO regions have reported a cumulative total of 145,900 cholera cases and 1,766 deaths.
Africa recorded the highest numbers, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, and the European Region.