The Yobe Government has announced that a total of 132 cases of cholera were recorded in the state as of September 25, out of which nine died.
Dr. Mohammed Gana, Commissioner for Health and Human Services, said this in a statement in Damaturu on Friday.
He stated that the instances were reported in Gubja, Fune, Machina, Nangere, and Nguru Local Government Areas.
Gana said, ”No fewer than 112 patients were treated and discharged, while nine others, representing 6.8 percent, sadly died due to the delay in accessing medical services.”
The commissioner stated that the disease was confirmed after samples of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) patients were earlier tested at the National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) and the University of Maiduguri.
He said, “It has now been confirmed that some of the cases were due to Vibrio cholera, the bacteria that causes cholera.
“With the current heavy rainfall and consequent flooding, a lot of road networks in the state have been damaged.
“Potable water supply is disrupted, which is compounded by contamination of the water sources in these areas, subsequently resulting in an upsurge in cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD).
“This is compounded by difficulties in delivery of services to those locations.”
He also appealed to all the critical stakeholders to support the state in its bid to stem the tide of the disease.
“This declaration, therefore, is a clarion call on all the health sector partners, religious and traditional leaders, as well as the citizens, to join hands with the state government and its agencies to curb the menace of cholera.
“At this point, I urge all our international, national, and local partners to bring their full expertise to support the cholera response effort in the state,” the commissioner appealed.
