Cholera outbreak: Borno confirms 43 deaths, 559 cases

Juliana Bitrus, commissioner for health in Borno, says the state has recorded 559 suspected cases of cholera and 43 deaths.

Bitrus spoke on the cholera outbreak in the state while briefing journalists in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

The commissioner listed Gwoza, Kaga, Hawul, Magumeri, Dambao, Maiduguri Metropolitan, and Jere as the LGAs where the disease has been recorded.

She said Gwoza LGA recorded 354 cases and 18 deaths while 126 cases and 11 fatalities were reported in Hawul.

“Others are Kaga with 22 cases, two deaths, Magumeri, six cases, one death, Damboa, 39 cases, 10 deaths, Jere eight cases, one death while Maiduguri has four cases, no death,” she said.

Bitrus explained the state government has set up rapid response teams to control and carry out surveillance in the affected areas.

“Active case search in communities is ongoing, while about 10 CTC/CTU has been established in affected LGAs,” she said.

“All secondary health facilities have been directed to create isolation wards for management of cases.

“People should observe precautionary measures like regular hand washing before eating and after visiting the toilet, covering of food, warming of leftover food before consumption.

“Treatment of water with aqua tab or chlorination and ensuring that all death-related victims are buried in line with IPC protocol.”