Borno State has recorded 274 new suspected cholera cases within the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of suspected infections to 4,204 since the outbreak began, health authorities have said.
The Manager of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Jacob Audu Thliza, disclosed this while presenting the state’s Cholera Epidemiological Summary for the period between May 1 and June 2 during a stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri on Tuesday, June 2.
The meeting, which focused on preventive measures and the management of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera, brought together stakeholders from all 27 local government areas of the state.
According to Thliza, the suspected cases were recorded at Cholera Treatment Centres (CTCs) and Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) across the state.
Data presented at the meeting showed that Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) recorded the highest number of cases with 2,404, followed by Jere Local Government Area with 1,214. Other affected areas include Konduga with 275 cases, Mafa with 184, Monguno with 90, Kaga with 18, Bama and Kwaya Kusar with eight cases each, Ngala with two cases, and Magumeri with one case.
Thliza said the outbreak had resulted in 39 deaths, while 2,664 patients had recovered and been discharged from treatment centres. He added that 118 settlements across 21 communities had been affected.
Speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Borno State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Shettima Maina Mohammed, said the state had recorded a significant reduction in the disease’s fatality rate.
“The case fatality rate is now less than one per cent. This is due to the aggressive response in treating active cases in affected communities, as well as sustained health promotion and awareness campaigns,” he said.
Mohammed said the ministry had deployed health workers, ad hoc committees and volunteers to affected communities as part of efforts to contain the outbreak. He added that preventive materials, including soap, disinfectants and chlorine, had been distributed to help curb the spread of the disease.