Borno confirms 128 cholera cases

Baba Mallam Gana

• Vaccinates 287, 708 Residents

The Borno State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, has confirmed 128 positive cases of cholera in the state, adding that 287, 708 persons were vaccinated.

According to him, the 421 suspected cases were recorded in Jere, Konduga, Mafa, Monguno, and the Maiduguri Metropolitan Councils (MMCs). Declaring the outbreak of cholera, on Friday, in Maiduguri, Gana saI: “I wish to, categorically, inform the good people of the state and the media that we’re having a cholera outbreak in the state.

“The water-borne disease is highly contagious.” Cholera can be transmitted via faecal-oral route with an incubation period of two-five days. The commissioner attributed cholera to poor sanitation and personal hygiene, open defecation, and poor storage of food items in households.

He added that lack of cholera vaccination campaigns, could further spread the disease. Gana noted that in line with current development in the health sector, and on behalf of the people, he declared cholera outbreak with a zero-mortality rate. He revealed that the state government had received 300, 000 doses of oral vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Health.

The commissioner, therefore, appealed to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and partners to provide an optimal response to cholera outbreak in the state, including the border areas with Niger, Cameroun and Chad.

He urged the media to partner with the government to inform, sensitise and create awareness, by educating the public on the dangers of cholera and how to prevent it.

“Cholera is associated with a rapid onset and profuse diarrhea with vomiting,” he said, warning that dehydration, shock and death, were imminent, if necessary actions were not taken.

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