Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, reported 401 suspected cholera cases in the state, with 21 recorded deaths.
The highest numbers were recorded in Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa, according to a statement signed by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director of Public Affairs at the State Ministry of Health.
Cholera is a food- and water-borne disease caused by consuming the bacteria Vibrio cholerae from contaminated water and food. Cholera can produce severe acute watery diarrhoea, and severe cases can be fatal within hours if not treated.
In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease that occurs primarily during the rainy season and more commonly in places with poor sanitation.
“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 has also risen to 21, an increase of six from the previously reported 15 fatalities,” the statement partly read.”
According to Ogunyemi, the increase in cases was expected after the Ileya festivities, which featured 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 added that the government, through the Ministry of Health and other sister agencies, is conducting rigorous surveillance and monitoring of the situation, as well as implementing planned programmes and actions to contain its 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 asked individuals to seek medical attention right away if they develop symptoms such as watery diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, general malaise, or fever, emphasising that cholera treatment is free of charge at all public health institutions.
While noting that Gov. 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 Organisation, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, the Red Cross, and others—for their support.
