Cholera outbreak: Anxiety as Borno death toll rises to 20

At least 319 suspected cases of cholera and 20 deaths have been reported in Borno State, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said on Tuesday.

The NCDC said the disease had currently affected six areas in the state, with Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons Camp on the outskirts of the capital, Maiduguri, as the most affected.

The National Coordinator and Chief Executive of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, confirmed the figure in a statement sent to THE PUNCH in Jos.

He said that on August 16, 2017, the NCDC was notified of a possible outbreak of cholera in a camp for IDPs in Borno State.

After the investigation by the Borno State Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation and some other agencies, cholera outbreak was confirmed.

Ihekweazu said, “The Federal Ministry of Health through its agencies – NCDC and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, is working closely with WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres (popularly called Doctors without Borders), United Nations Children’s Fund and other humanitarian agencies in Borno, to support the state government in curtailing the spread of the outbreak.

“Public health measures that have been initiated include the establishment of a cholera treatment centre in the affected camps and surrounding areas, strengthening access to water, sanitation and hygiene. Partners are working collaboratively to plan a cholera vaccination campaign. Risk communications activities, using both conventional media and door-to-door enlightenment have been reinforced. Punch