At least five persons have been killed in an outbreak of Cholera in Lagos State.
The state’s commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who disclosed this, announced that 60 persons sustained injuries in the outbreak.
He said cases of severe gastroenteritis have been reported in communities around Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Kosofe Local Government Areas.
He assured the government’s response, urging the residents to be vigilant and adopt precautionary measures to prevent the spread of a potential cholera outbreak in the State.
“We have activated a statewide heightened surveillance and response. The Ministry of Health Directorate of Environmental Health and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been alerted to investigate a possible water contamination source in the Lekki Victoria Island axis.
“We suspect a possible cholera outbreak; however, samples have been taken for confirmation. As of April 28, 2024, Nigeria reported 815 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths across 25 states,” he said.
The commissioner added due to recent rains, the state has seen a notable increase in cases of severe vomiting and watery stools, adding that urban slums and crowded areas with poor sanitation are particularly at risk.