Authorities in Yola-North Local Government Area of Adamawa State have confirmed a cholera outbreak that has claimed four lives and left 36 others hospitalized.
The council chairman, Mr Jibrin Ibrahim, announced during a visit to the victims receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Centre (IDC) in Yola on Sunday.
The outbreak, reported in Alkalawa, Ajiya, and Limawa wards, initially affected 20 individuals. However, the number has since risen to over 40 cases, with health workers working tirelessly to stabilize the patients. “A good number of the victims are now stable and receiving adequate medical attention,” Ibrahim stated.
The chairman praised the swift response of local health workers, the Red Cross, and international partners in managing the outbreak.
He attributed the cholera outbreak to contaminated water caused by recent flooding in the area.
Ibrahim urged the public to maintain proper hygiene, use clean drinking water, and wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly to prevent further spread of the disease.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development.
“Cholera is an extremely virulent disease transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water (2). Cholera can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea and the severe forms of the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.
“Most people infected with V. cholerae do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faeces for 1–10 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people.
“Among people who develop symptoms, the majority have mild or moderate symptoms. It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show symptoms. A minority of patients develop acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration. This can lead to death if left untreated.”
