The Lagos State government yesterday issued a warning about a highly aggressive and contagious strain of cholera that has been detected in the state.
This strain, identified as cholera sub-type O-1, is associated with more severe diseases, leading to increased concern among health officials.
The state has reported 17 confirmed cases of cholera, resulting in 15 fatalities.
Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, confirmed the situation in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the identified strain is “highly aggressive and contagious, with potential for widespread dissemination.”
Professor Abayomi provided an update on the outbreak, noting that through community-based case finding and contact tracing, the government observed that the number of cases “has peaked and is now significantly declining.”
“The geographical distribution of suspected cases by Local Government Area showed that Lagos Island is the epicentre of the outbreak with 106 cases, followed by Kosofe with 49; Eti-Osa with 38; Lagos Mainland with 30; Ojo with 17; Ikorodu with 16; Shomolu with 11; Surulere with nine; Apapa with eight; Mushin with eight; Ifako Ijaiye with eight; Alimosho with four; Ajeromi-Ifelodun with four; Oshodi-Isolo with three; Ikeja with three; Ibeju Lekki with two; Badagry with two; and Amuwo-Odofin with one,” Abayomi detailed.
He also mentioned that the state government is receiving support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and international partners, including WHO Nigeria and UNICEF Nigeria.
Local non-governmental organizations are actively involved in raising awareness and conducting community-based surveillance efforts.
Ondo State Activates Cholera Surveillance
In a related development, the Ondo State government announced the activation of its surveillance system for immediate response to any potential cholera cases.
Health Commissioner, Dr. Banji Ajaka, noted that the state had experienced two cholera cases in the Okitipupa council area earlier this year, which were successfully contained by the Rapid Response Team.
Dr. Ajaka highlighted the state’s preparedness measures, stating, “The surveillance team was also strengthened by the COPREP programme with community informants/contact tracers trained and placed on stipends for eight months. They, however, would be deployed for active case search in preparation for a cholera outbreak.”
The proactive measures in Ondo State are aimed at ensuring that any new cases of cholera are quickly identified and contained to prevent a widespread outbreak similar to the one experienced in Lagos.
With the identification of a highly aggressive cholera strain in Lagos and proactive measures in Ondo State, health authorities emphasize the importance of vigilance, timely reporting of symptoms, and adherence to hygiene practices to curb the spread of this deadly disease.
The collaborative efforts of local and international health bodies are crucial in managing and mitigating the impact of the outbreak.
