Cholera: Death Toll Rises To 37 As Ogun Records First Casualty

The current Cholera (a food and water-borne disease caused by ingesting the bacteria— Vibrio cholerae— in contaminated water and food) outbreak in Nigeria has claimed no fewer than 37 lives.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, in a statement on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs in the state Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, said the state had recorded an additional six cholera deaths as against the previous 15.

She said cholera cases had risen to 401 in the state.

Also, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, told a newsman that the state has recorded one death and 14 cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in its recent report, said from January 1 to June 11, 2024, over 1,141 suspected and over 65 confirmed cases of cholera, resulting in over 30 deaths, had been reported from 96 local government areas in 30 states.

With the six additional deaths in Lagos and one death in Ogun, the fatalities are no fewer than 37.

Giving the situation report in Lagos on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Ogunyemi, stated that Lagos Island remained the epicentre of the outbreak.

The special adviser, who stated this in the statement by the Director of Public Affairs in the state Ministry of Health, Ogunbanwo, recalled in the last update, that the state recorded 350 cases and 15 deaths.

The statement partly read, “Following the last update on the cholera outbreak in Lagos, which reported 350 suspected cases and 15 fatalities, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, disclosed that the total number of cholera cases has increased to 401 across Lagos, with Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa recording the highest numbers.

“Dr Ogunyemi revealed this today while providing an update on the outbreak after meeting with members of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. She added that the death toll had also risen to 21, an increase of six from the previously reported 15 fatalities.”

According to Ogunyemi, the rise in cases was anticipated following the Sallah festivities, during which large gatherings occurred.

She, however, noted that suspected cases were subsiding across local government areas, particularly in previously affected LGAs due to the state government’s interventions and surveillance efforts.

Also, a 62-year-old woman in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State has reportedly died of cholera.

The outbreak which occurred three days ago, also left five other persons hospitalised.

The deceased, it was gathered contracted the disease from her son who is now among those hospitalised.