BORNO: Cholera outbreak kills 23 as authorities record 530 cases

A report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, has revealed that an outbreak of cholera in Borno State has claimed the lives of no less than 23 people while 530 other cases have been recorded.

The first case of the outbreak was recorded on August 16 and according to the UN agency it was initially reported by the state’s Ministry of Health.

In the statement, OCHA said; “Over 530 suspected cases had been registered as of September 5, including 23 deaths (4.3 percent fatality rate).

“The outbreak is mainly in Muna Garage, a camp hosting at least 20,000 internally-displaced persons, IDPs, on the outskirts of the state capital, Maiduguri. Although most cases have been identified in Muna Garage camp, others have been identified in Custom House, Ruwan Zafi and Bolori II, all camps located near Muna Garage.

“There have also been reports of a suspected cholera outbreak in Monguno and Dikwa Local Government areas, North-East and East of Maiduguri, respectively.”

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Reports say the State Ministry of Health, the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency and humanitarian organisations are responding accordingly to the outbreak with the Ministry of Health establishing a 30-bed Cholera Treatment Centre.

Two Oral Rehydration Points had been set up in Muna Garage, while health organisations were also carrying out risk communications, and encouraging individuals with cholera-like symptoms to be screened.

According to OCHA: “By communicating at household level in this way, health partners have visited more than 1,300 households which resulted in the identification of 53 suspected cases of cholera.

“Hygiene promoters have carried out door-to-door hygiene sensitisation and have distributed chlorination tablets.

“In addition, special interventions are being undertaken to prevent spread of cholera in the markets where people buy food.”

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