Health

201 suspected cholera cases recorded in 2024 in Oyo State

OYO State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, Mrs Titilope Akinleye, in a situation report on cholera cases, said that till September, 201 suspected cholera cases were reported in Oyo State, with only a person confirmed to have died of the disease.

Mrs Akinleye made the disclosure during a cholera emergency meeting at the Oyo Public Health Emergency Operations Centre situation room, with representatives of the Ministries of Environment, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Education, and Health, as well as WHO, UNICEF, the Red Cross, and IVN in attendance.

According to her, in week 39, the last week in September, there were 79 suspected cases, with five confirmed positive for cholera and one death in Ibadan North among confirmed cases.

She declared that local governments with most suspected cases of cholera were Ibadan North West (14), Ibadan South West (15), Ido (87), Akinyele (38), Ibadan North East (13), Lagelu (10) and Ibadan North West (14).

She added that the highest suspected cholera cases were reported in week 39 in the state; most of the people affected were less than 40 years old, and most cholera confirmed cases were from Ibadan South West Local Government, followed by Ido local government.

Mrs Akinleye said since the activation of the cholera working group, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and RUWASA, there has been active case search and contact tracing in the affected LGAs, public enlightenment, positioning of infection prevention and control materials and intravenous fluid with the adjuncts in holding facilities, among other activities to stem cases of cholera across the state.

Oyo State Epidemiologist, Dr Abibat Kareem, declared in her report that 76 patients with suspected cholera were managed at the infectious disease centre in Olodo, with 62 patients discharged and zero deaths recorded.

Earlier, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi speaking through the Director of Public Health of her Ministry, Dr Akintunde Babatunde, said the meeting was to provide an update on the cholera situation in the state, saying the cholera outbreak was due to a complete breach in both personal and environmental hygiene in the affected LGAs.

Dr Ajetunmobi, who highlighted activities by the health ministry, environment ministry, and other line ministries on the cholera outbreak, said no matter the level of case management put in place in the community, without increased public education on the cholera transmission, interrupting the chain of transmission of cholera will be difficult.

She said the cholera incidence at Akinyele LGA has been halted, with the government providing them potable water, ensuring a conducive environment for living, chlorinating their open well, providing commodities like oral rehydration therapy, and fumigating the environment.

The health commissioner stated that cholera is a very highly infectious disease that kills very fast because of the continuous vomiting and stooling associated with it, urging individuals to regularly wash their hands with soap and clean water, minimise consumption of food prepared outside their homes, and be wary of drinking water from unknown sources.

Sade Oguntola