Cholera outbreak in Borno State, northeast Nigeria has killed 14 people, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia said on Wednesday.
The Commissioner said eight people were killed from cholera confirmed cases, while six others died of acute watery Diarrhoea.
Announcing the outbreak at the Emergency Operation Centre, Maiduguri, the Health Commissioner, Dr. Haruna Mshelia said the official declaration of cholera has become inevitable to enable the state, partners and NGOs respond to outbreaks in 13 councils.
He said the outbreak concentrations are in Maidinatu and El-Miskin Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, Bolori ward of Maiduguri and suburbs.
“As of today, September 5, 380 cases of suspected cholera have been reported with 14 deaths. Over 250 cases have been treated and discharged.
“In additional efforts, active case search is ongoing as World Health Organisation (WHO) engages nearly 200 community health Champions. They are currently searching for cases in each household, reporting and referring them to appropriate treatment centres,” he said.
The Commissioner also said prior to the outbreak, the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and other partners have established cholera treatment centre at Dala, with the mobilization of ambulances for rapid response.
“We are jointly working to control and contain the outbreak by reinforcing early detection of suspected cases in IDP camps, through providing water, sanitation and hygiene facilities,” he added
Dr. Mshelia said, presently, Government in partnership with UN agencies and international NGOs are to establish cholera treatment centres to manage reported cases.
He said that more treatment centres will be required, as the numbers of cases were increasing in affected metropolis and councils.
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