The Borno State Government on Wednesday declared an outbreak of cholera in the state.
The State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, said that the eight samples sent for laboratory test proved positive and as such, there was a cholera outbreak in the state.
He said that although 14 persons had reportedly died in areas where acute diarrhoea was diagnosed, but he could not confirm if it was due to cholera as no autopsy have been carried out.
He said, “With the laboratory confirmation of samples of eight suspected cholera cases sent to the NCDC laboratory in Abuja, the Borno State Ministry of Health officially declares an outbreak.
“This official declaration has become important to the enable state, partners, and NGOs to mobilise adequate resources for a timely and comprehensive response to the outbreak which presently concentrates in Madinatu and El-Miskin IDPs camps and Bolori ward in Maiduguri and suburbs.”
He said the suspected cases had also been reported from Kaga with 28 cases, Konduga with 36 cases, Magumeri with 139 cases, Old Maiduguri with 67 cases and Chibok with 78 cases, among others.
Mshelia also said the state government had activated the full-scale emergency operations response for a concerted response to an outbreak of this nature.
He said, “As of today, 5th September 2018, 380 cases of suspected cholera have been reported with 14 deaths as over 250 cases have been treated and discharged.”
He noted that the local government areas affected by acute water diarrhoea had increased from 10 to 13.
