No fewer than 20 persons have died from a cholera outbreak in Bauchi State.
Commissioner of Health Dr. Aliyu Maigoro confirmed this at a briefing on Tuesday.
According to him, the index case was a 37- year- old housewife, who was admitted at the Burra General Hospital on April 24, 2021, in Ningi Local Government Area.
He said upon her admission, it was discovered there is an ongoing outbreak of the similar disease in neighboring communities like Sumaila and other Local Government Areas of Kano State, which may have spread to Bauchi.
The woman was said to have complained of abdominal pains, watery diarrhea and vomiting which was successfully managed before she was later discharged alongside others.
He said further that nine local government areas in the state recorded a total of 322 cases within one month adding that the case fatality rate is now 6.2 percent.
The commissioner said following intensive surveillance by the officials of the ministry through the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, cases were detected in Warji, Bauchi, Giade and Toro local government areas of the state.
He said, “The state Ministry of Health was notified of a sporadic case of gastroenteritis in Magami Community, Burra Ward of Ningi Local Government Area by the Area Health Officer in Burra District on the 11th May 2021. This followed an increase in the number of cases above normal from the community.
“The index case was a 37-year old housewife who presented at Burra General Hospital on 24th April 2021. She complained of abdominal pains, watery diarrhea and vomiting, and she and others were successfully managed and discharged home.”
“A total of 21 samples have so far been collected and tested out of which 19 positives by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and by a culture which confirmed the presence of cholera.
“Bauchi recorded 147 cases with nine deaths, Toro 58 cases with three deaths, Ningi 51 cases also with three deaths, Misau had 31 cases with four deaths, Giade recorded 10 cases with one death, Ganjuwa seven cases with no death, Shira and Darazo recorded one case each with no deaths while Warji had 16 cases with no deaths.
“This brings the total of confirmed cases to 322 with 20 deaths and 6.2 per cent death rate,” he stated.
Maigoro said further that four cholera treatment units have been activated in Bauchi metropolis at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, Urban Maternity and Primary Health Center, Kandahar.
He said measures taken so far to prevent further spread include reactivation of the already existing state Public Health Emergency Operation Center and the development of an Incident Action Plan.
The commissioner also noted that isolation centers have been set up in all General Hospitals of the affected LGs while surveillance activities have been heightened to detect and report cases promptly.