A cholera outbreak has claimed the lives of seven people in the Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, while 71 others have been hospitalized.
The outbreak was linked to a recent flood that contaminated the community’s drinking water, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
In a statement shared on Tuesday, NEMA said, “As of September 16, 2024, 71 patients have been hospitalized, with over 100 under observation, and seven confirmed deaths. The outbreak is attributed to a recent flood disaster that contaminated the primary drinking water source.”
The affected communities include Alkalawa, Doubeli, Rumde, and Gwadabawa. NEMA further stated that the surge in cholera cases led to some patients being transferred to the Federal Medical Centre due to overcrowding at the isolation center.
To help control the outbreak, NEMA has teamed up with the Adamawa State government to take emergency action. “NEMA, along with the Adamawa State government, has initiated emergency measures, including chlorinating toilets and providing water treatment to reduce the spread of infection,” the agency said.
They also conducted community education campaigns to raise awareness about cholera and how to prevent it. NEMA added that it is “closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with stakeholders for timely intervention.”
This outbreak comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the country has seen 1,528 suspected cases of cholera and 53 deaths across 31 states and 107 Local Government Areas.
