Health

Why We Are Yet To Identify Cause Of Cholera Outbreak – Lagos Govt

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedJune 23, 2024

The Lagos State Government has said it is yet to Identify the cause of the cholera outbreak in the state.

This is coming after media reports claimed that the cholera outbreak in Lagos originated from ingestion of local tiger nut drink.

Speaking on this via his X handle on Saturday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, said the cause is yet to be identified.

Akin Abayomi said the fresh cases were recorded as of 20th June 2024, 24 hours after the state announced an increase in deaths recorded from the disease.

READ: Cholera: Death Toll Rises To 24 As Lagos Records 417 Cases

Abayomi in series of infographics revealed that cases were reported from Agege, Badagry, Ikeja, Mushin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Alimosho, and Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Apapa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos Mainland, and Surulere.

He said that the Emergency Operations Centre, in collaboration with all relevant partners, is actively engaged in contact tracing, community-based surveillance, awareness campaigns, sample testing, and ensuring that confirmed cholera cases receive appropriate medical treatment.

He advised residents to adhere strictly to personal and environmental hygiene.

Although, there were speculations that the Lagos cholera may have emanated from locally-made tiger nut drinks, a source in the State Ministry of health, told Sunday Vanguard, that the cause of the outbreak was yet unknown as the state was still conducting investigations in different areas.

In a confirmation statement, Abayomi told Sunday Vanguard that the cause is yet to be identified.

“We have not been able to identify and batch of locally made beverages that contain the cholera bacteria as of now, but we are still searching.”

Also, when Sunday, Vanguard contacted the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, on the development, she said: “I am just hearing this. I have asked my director of food safety to find more information on it.”