The number of deaths from cholera has increased from 15 to 21 in Lagos State, the government said during the week.

Also, cases of infections increased to 401, from 350,

 

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, attributed the deaths to large gatherings during the Eid-el Kabir.

 

In an update, the Ministry of Health’s Director, Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, said the cases increased to 401 across Lagos, with Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa recording the highest numbers.

 

Ogunyemi, however, noted that suspected cases were subsiding across local government areas (LGAs), previously affected due to the state government’s interventions.

 

She gave the update after meeting with members of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).

 

“The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and its agency, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), continues to collect samples of water sources, food, and beverages to identify the source of contamination.

 

“We have also intensified our surveillance activities in communities, particularly in affected local government areas, to address the situation head-on.

 

“We are also working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, as well as the Ministry of Tertiary Education to ensure all precautions are taken in our schools to protect children and scholars as they return.

 

“Residents must, however, remain vigilant, practice good hand hygiene, and participate in community sanitation activities to stop the spread of cholera,” she said.

 

The Special Adviser commended local, national, and international partners—including UNICEF, WHO, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), NIMR, Red Cross, and others—for their support in combating the outbreak.

 

Credit: thenationonlineng.net