Ekiti steps up surveillance to prevent cholera outbreak

The Ekiti State government has urged residents to exercise vigilance, take proactive steps to prevent the spread of cholera and promptly report any suspected cases to the appropriate authorities, enabling swift action to be taken to contain and manage the situation effectively.

Dr Oyebanji Filani, the Commissioner for Health, in a “Public Health Advisory on Cholera,” said the outbreak of cholera and the attendant casualty in Lagos State within the geopolitical zone calls for concern.

According to its latest report, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) alerts the public to the escalating number of cholera cases across the country, coinciding with the peak of the rainy season.

The NCDC said from January 1 to June 11, 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera with 30 deaths had been reported from 96 LGAs in 30 states.

Speaking on precautionary measures to prevent cholera infection, the Ekiti health commissioner, urged residents to embrace hand hygiene, drink safe water, food safety, vaccination, and to also “use proper toilet facilities and maintain clean sanitation practices.

He also urged them to stay up-to-date with vaccinations against diarrheal diseases, particularly for children.

Filani said, “The state has an operational readiness strategy (based on previous epidemiologic data, risk assessment and identified hotspots) to prevent the outbreak of cholera through the Incident Management System with functional areas/pillars.

“The state has an already established Rapid Response Team at both state and local government areas to actively search for cholera cases. As a result of this, there is heightened surveillance for cholera and other priority diseases across the 16 LGAs in the state,” he said.

Filani described cholera as “a food and water-borne disease, caused by the ingestion of the microorganism Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food,” adding that “it is characterised in its most severe form by a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhoea that can lead to death by severe dehydration.”

The commissioner, further advised the public to always “wash their hands frequently with soap and water, before eating and after using the toilet, and to ensure there is access to safe drinking water sources, boil or treat water from questionable sources, as well practice safe food handling, cooking and storage to prevent cholera.”