GOMBE CONFIRMS CHOLERA OUTBREAK, TREATS 74 PATIENTS

The Gombe State Government has confirmed a cholera outbreak in Kedo village, Todi Ward, Billiri Local Government Area, after two people died following episodes of diarrhoea and vomiting on October 4.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adamu-Danladi Bojude, disclosed this during a media briefing in Gombe on Wednesday, October 21, saying 74 patients had been treated and discharged, with no patient remaining on admission at the time of the briefing.

According to Bojude, the government deployed a Rapid Response Team to work with the local government health team to investigate the outbreak and provide free treatment to affected residents at the Primary Health Centre in Sheila.

He said the state had recorded seven consecutive days without a new case as of October 21, expressing optimism that the outbreak could be declared over if no additional case was reported by October 24.

“Today, being October 21, is day seven of zero cases reported. If by day 10, October 24, no case is reported, then this particular outbreak will be declared over,” the commissioner said.

Bojude explained that the state had strengthened its cholera prevention measures since 2023 through an annual prevention plan implemented by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and other development partners.

He said the initiative covers more than 150 identified cholera hotspots across the state’s 11 local government areas, adding that the measures have helped reduce the frequency of outbreaks. However, he noted that cases could still occur in settlements not classified as hotspots.

The commissioner said the government had activated an Incident Management System at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate surveillance, case detection and response activities.

He described cholera as a bacterial infection caused by Vibrio cholerae, which spreads through contaminated food or water. He warned that the disease could become fatal within hours without appropriate treatment.

Bojude urged residents to maintain proper food, personal, and environmental hygiene and report suspected cases to the nearest health facility immediately. He also assured residents that treatment for suspected cholera cases would be provided free of charge.

The state government said it remained committed to containing the outbreak and preventing further transmission.