The director of epidemiology in Katsina State, Kabir Suleiman, emphasized the state’s proactive approach to addressing the cholera outbreak. “The state has activated appropriate measures to tackle the outbreak, noted as high risk for cholera by the global task force for cholera control,” he stated. As of now, there have been two confirmed cases and 118 suspected cases of cholera reported in Katsina State, located in North-west Nigeria.
These cases span across various local government areas, with Kadusa Local Government Area recording the two confirmed cases. During a recent press conference, Suleiman, who also serves as the state’s Incidence Manager, highlighted the state’s readiness in preparing for this disease outbreak.
“In response, we have enforced a sensitive surveillance system across all 34 local government areas and established oral dehydration points,” Suleiman disclosed. These points are crucial for administering oral treatments to suspected cholera patients and referring severe cases to designated cholera treatment facilities.
“Cholera is a severe illness characterized by acute diarrhea often leading to complications, caused by bacterial infection,” he explained. Katsina State, with a population exceeding nine million spread across 34 local government areas and 361 wards, faces additional challenges, including 21 local government areas that are security-compromised.
“We are currently deploying necessary supplies to all 34 local government areas due to the high-risk classification of Katsina for cholera,” Suleiman remarked. Earlier in the year, the state successfully controlled a cholera outbreak in Kadusa local government area through its rapid response system.
“We responded swiftly during a significant outbreak in March, recording 68 cases and one fatality,” he recalled. The state remains vigilant in its efforts to prevent infectious disease outbreaks, maintaining a state of alertness and conducting continuous training for rapid response teams and surveillance officers.
“Infection prevention and control measures are paramount to contain any potential spread, especially within healthcare settings,” he stressed. To enhance public awareness, the health agency has launched educational campaigns using radio jingles broadcasted across various stations in the state.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported a resurgence of cholera cases across several regions including Africa, East Asia, America, Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Between January and May, approximately 195,000 cholera cases were reported, with the Eastern Mediterranean Region leading with over 98,000 cases across seven countries. Africa followed with 92,789 cases reported from 14 countries, while America reported around 3,700 cases from one country.
In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) documented over 65 confirmed cases and more than 30 deaths from January to June, spanning about 100 local governments in 30 states. This data from the NCDC includes both suspected and confirmed cases of cholera, underscoring the ongoing challenges and efforts to mitigate the disease’s impact across the country.
