Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, stated that the number of suspected cholera cases in the state has risen to 401, with 21 fatalities.
The announcement claimed that Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa had the largest populations.
Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs at the state Ministry of Health, confirmed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by consuming the bacterium Vibrio cholerae from contaminated water and food. Cholera can cause severe acute watery diarrhea, and the worst forms of the disease can kill within hours if not treated.
In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal illness that occurs mostly during the rainy season and more commonly in places with inadequate sanitation.
Following the previous update on the cholera outbreak in Lagos, which reported 350 suspected cases and 15 fatalities, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, revealed that the total number of cholera cases in Lagos has risen to 401, with Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa having the highest numbers.
“Dr. Ogunyemi said this today while presenting an update on the epidemic during a meeting with members of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
She also stated that the death toll has grown to 21, up six from the previously reported 15 fatalities,” the statement read in part.”
According to Ogunyemi, the increase in cases was expected after the Ileya celebrations, which included big crowds.
She did, however, remark that suspected cases are decreasing throughout Local Government Areas, particularly in previously impacted LGAs, thanks to the state government’s interventions and surveillance efforts.
The Special Adviser stated that the government, through the Ministry of Health and other sister agencies, is maintaining rigorous surveillance and monitoring of the situation and implementing planned programs and activities to curb the spread.
“The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and its agency, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, continues to collect samples of water sources, food, and beverages to identify the source of contamination.
We have also intensified our surveillance activities in communities, particularly in affected local government areas, to address the situation head-on.
“We are also working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education as well as the Ministry of Tertiary Education to ensure all precautions are taken in our schools to protect children and scholars as they return.
Residents must, however, remain vigilant, practice good hand hygiene, and participate in community sanitation activities to stop the spread of cholera,” she stated.
She recommended individuals to seek medical help right away if they develop symptoms such as watery diarrhea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, general malaise, or fever, emphasizing that cholera treatment is free of charge at all public health institutions.
While noting that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains committed to ensuring that residents of Lagos receive quality and affordable health care, the Special Adviser extended the State Government’s gratitude to local, national, and international partners—including the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, the Red Cross, and others—for their support.
“Appreciation is also extended to the dedicated team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, environmental health officers, Water Corporation officers, surveillance officers, heads of agencies, members of PHEOC, and volunteers who are working around the clock to combat the disease and keep Lagos safe,” Ogunyemi said.
