Cholera Claims Five Lives As Cases Surge In Plateau Community

The Plateau State Government has intensified emergency measures to contain a growing cholera outbreak in Mangu Local Government Area after five deaths were recorded and the number of suspected infections climbed to 53.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed the latest figures while briefing journalists in Jos, saying the state had confirmed 11 cholera cases, while dozens of additional suspected cases were being monitored across affected communities.

According to the commissioner, the outbreak has affected Pushit, Mangu 1 and Mangu 2 communities, raising concerns over continued transmission within the area.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. The disease thrives in communities with poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene practices and limited access to safe drinking water.

Baamlong said the state government had activated emergency response mechanisms to curb the spread of the disease and protect residents.

“We have scaled up public health interventions to contain the outbreak, prevent further transmission, and minimise its impact on affected communities,” he said.

As part of the response, the Ministry of Health has deployed additional Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to affected areas, expanded treatment and isolation centres and commenced emergency procurement of Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, intravenous fluids and other essential medical supplies.

The commissioner also disclosed that an Incident Management System (IMS) had been activated to coordinate a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response involving health authorities, local governments and development partners.

Health officials have intensified disease surveillance, contact tracing and public awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging residents to adopt preventive measures.

Baamlong urged residents to drink only safe or treated water, maintain proper hygiene, avoid open defecation and ensure proper waste disposal.

He further advised residents experiencing symptoms such as severe diarrhoea, vomiting or dehydration to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility.

The commissioner reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of citizens and appealed to development partners and stakeholders to support ongoing containment efforts.

Nigeria continues to battle recurrent cholera outbreaks, particularly during the rainy season when flooding and poor sanitation conditions heighten the risk of transmission.

In recent weeks, health authorities in Borno State reported a major cholera outbreak that claimed at least 74 lives and infected more than 7,800 people across 14 local government areas, placing significant pressure on healthcare facilities and prompting emergency interventions by government agencies and humanitarian organisations.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has maintained heightened surveillance against other infectious diseases, including Ebola, while reassuring Nigerians that no Ebola case has been recorded in the country despite outbreaks reported elsewhere on the continent.

Health authorities have urged members of the public to remain vigilant and comply with preventive health measures as efforts continue to contain the Plateau outbreak and prevent further loss of lives.