Cholera Outbreak Reported in Several Nigerian States, Health Officials Confirm

• A senior official in the Ministry of Health confirmed that samples from suspected cases had been sent to the laboratory for further testing
  

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Health authorities in Nasarawa State have reported an unspecified number of new cholera cases, according to the state’s epidemiologist, Dr. Grace Tsakpa.

Speaking in Lafia on Friday, Dr. Tsakpa confirmed that cases had been identified in various parts of the state, but details remain unclear. “There are reported cases of cholera. I was just informed, so I can’t really tell how many cases we have for now,” she said.

A senior official in the state Ministry of Health, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that samples from suspected cases had been sent to the laboratory for further testing. The outbreak is believed to have started in Jos North and Bassa local government areas, with other regions placed under medical surveillance.

Efforts to reach Nasarawa State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Shurkuk Cletus, for further comments were unsuccessful.

In neighbouring Plateau State, officials have also confirmed a cholera outbreak. An unnamed source told Punch on Friday that suspected cases have been sent for laboratory confirmation. “We have cases of cholera in Plateau State. Suspected cases from two council areas are being investigated, and we are working to prevent the spread to other LGAs,” the source said.

In Borno State, over 451 cholera cases have been confirmed following devastating floods in Maiduguri and surrounding areas. The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Baba Malam, confirmed the figures and noted that oral cholera vaccines had been distributed in internally displaced people (IDP) camps and flood-affected communities.

Five local government areas, including Jere, Konduga, Mafa, and Monguno, were reported to be affected by the outbreak.

In Kano State, health authorities have reported 827 suspected cholera cases in 2024. According to Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Health, the cases were recorded across 28 of the state’s 44 local government areas, with 19 confirmed so far.

Abdullahi added that there are currently seven active cases at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) Cholera Treatment Centre.

During the period under review, the state recorded 45 deaths and 775 recoveries.