Health authorities in Plateau State have confirmed a cholera outbreak that has claimed five lives and left 11 people infected, with dozens more suspected cases under investigation.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed the figures during a briefing with journalists in Jos on Sunday.
He said the outbreak has so far resulted in 53 suspected cases, while laboratory tests have confirmed 11 infections.
According to the commissioner, the affected communities are Pushit, Mangu 1 and Mangu 2 in Mangu Local Government Area.
In response to the outbreak, the state government has stepped up emergency measures aimed at limiting transmission and protecting residents. Baamlong said health authorities had deployed additional Rapid Response Teams to the affected areas and expanded treatment and isolation facilities.
He added that the government had also procured emergency supplies, including Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, intravenous fluids and other essential medications required for patient care.
To strengthen coordination, the Ministry of Health has activated an Incident Management System to oversee response activities.
“The activation of the IMS ensures a coordinated, efficient, and accountable response structure in line with national and international emergency response frameworks,” he said.
Baamlong explained that cholera is a highly infectious diarrhoeal disease caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
He urged residents of Mangu and surrounding communities to take preventive measures seriously by drinking safe water, practising proper hand hygiene, avoiding open defecation and maintaining good sanitation through proper waste disposal.
The commissioner also called on residents to seek medical attention immediately if symptoms of cholera are suspected, stressing the importance of early treatment in preventing fatalities.
While assuring citizens of the government’s determination to tackle the outbreak, Baamlong appealed to development partners and other stakeholders to assist ongoing intervention efforts aimed at containing the disease and preventing further loss of life.
