Two people have died and five others have been hospitalized due to a cholera outbreak in Badagry, Lagos.
The Medical Director at General Hospital, Badagry, Dr. Olatunde Bakare confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.
Dr. Bakare said that the victims were brought to the hospital by officials from the local Correctional Centre.
He stated, “Six inmates of the centre were brought to the hospital on July 9 at about 7:00 p.m. One of the inmates was brought in dead, while another died the following morning in the hospital.”
He added, “The laboratory test confirmed that they had the disease, and they were hospitalized at the emergency section of the hospital. Another inmate was brought in the following day, making five patients receiving treatment now.”
Dr. Bakare mentioned that one patient had already been treated and discharged. He praised the Lagos State Ministry of Health for their prompt response, saying, “The ministry has sent in monitoring teams of doctors and environmental service officers to the prison and the General Hospital, Badagry, with necessary drugs. They brought intravenous fluids and consumables, along with environmental improvement and water treatment measures. This has led to a decline in new cases and marked improvements in the clinical state of those on admission.”
NAN reports that the cholera outbreak in Lagos was declared on June 15, with 436 suspected cases initially reported. Just six days later, the number had risen to over 500 suspected cases and 43 confirmed cases, with a 5.4 percent fatality rate among the suspected cases.
At the hospital, NAN observed that five inmates from the centre were receiving treatment in the emergency section. Additionally, a medical doctor from Ikoyi Correctional Centre visited the Awarjigoh quarters in Badagry to assess the situation. The doctor, who chose to remain anonymous, reported, “None of the inmates tested are currently having the disease. All measures have been put in place to curb the outbreak.”
