Cholera outbreak claims 2 lives in Gombe, 74 patients discharged

The Gombe State Government has said it is on course to contain a cholera outbreak in the Billiri Local Government Area after recording seven consecutive days without a new infection.
Health Commissioner Prof. Adamu-Danladi Bojude disclosed that 74 patients affected by the outbreak in Kedo village, Todi Ward, had been treated and discharged, with no patient currently on admission.
The outbreak, which was linked to cases of severe diarrhoea and vomiting reported on October 4, claimed two lives before health authorities intervened.
According to the commissioner, the state government deployed a Rapid Response Team to support local health officials in investigating the outbreak and providing free treatment to affected residents at the Primary Health Centre in Sheila.
Bojude said the absence of new cases over the past week was an encouraging sign and raised hopes that the outbreak could soon be officially declared over.
“If by day 10, October 24, no case is reported, then this particular outbreak will be declared over,” he said.
The commissioner said the state had activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and an Incident Management System to coordinate surveillance, case detection and response efforts.
He noted that Gombe had strengthened cholera prevention measures since 2023 through a statewide plan implemented in collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and development partners.
The programme targets more than 150 cholera-prone communities across the state's 11 local government areas and has helped reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
Despite the progress, Bojude said isolated cases could still emerge in settlements not previously identified as high-risk areas, stressing the need for continued vigilance.
He described preparedness as critical to preventing the spread of infectious diseases and ensuring rapid response when outbreaks occur.
The commissioner also reminded residents that cholera is a bacterial infection commonly spread through contaminated food and water and can become fatal within a short period if untreated.
He urged the public to maintain proper hygiene, ensure safe water consumption and promptly report suspected cases to the nearest health facility, assuring residents that treatment would remain free.
The state government, he added, remains committed to protecting communities from cholera and other public health emergencies.