The death toll from the cholera outbreak in Lagos State has risen to 24, up from the previously reported 21.
According to an update from the Lagos State Government’s report on Friday, as of June 19, 2024, a total of 24 individuals have succumbed to the disease. The report also indicates that there have been 417 suspected cases, out of which only 35 have been confirmed across all 20 Local Government Council Areas in the state.
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On Thursday, Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, reported an increase in fatalities from 15 to 21 and noted 350 suspected cases. She highlighted that Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa had the highest numbers of cases.
Ogunyemi attributed the surge in cases to the recent Ileya festivities, which led to large gatherings. She mentioned that suspected cases were now declining in affected areas due to interventions by the state government and enhanced surveillance efforts.
The special adviser emphasized that the Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Health and collaborating agencies, continues to conduct rigorous surveillance, monitor the situation closely, and implement programs to halt the spread of cholera. Measures include sampling water sources, food, and beverages to identify sources of contamination and intensifying surveillance in affected communities.
Ogunyemi advised residents to remain vigilant, practice good hand hygiene, and participate in community sanitation efforts to prevent cholera transmission. She urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as watery diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, malaise, or fever to seek immediate medical attention, highlighting that cholera treatment is free at public health facilities.
She also acknowledged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to providing quality and affordable healthcare to Lagos residents and expressed gratitude to local, national, and international partners, including UNICEF, WHO, NCDC, NIMR, Red Cross, and others, for their support in combating the outbreak.
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Additionally, the Ogun State Government confirmed a cholera outbreak, resulting in one fatality and hospitalization of five individuals, according to Tomi Coker, the state’s Commissioner for Health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sadly confirmed a global death toll of 194,897 and 1,932 cases due to cholera outbreaks reported from January 1, 2024, to May 26, 2024. These outbreaks occurred across 24 countries in five WHO regions, with the Eastern Mediterranean Region recording the highest numbers, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, and the European Region.
During this period, there were no reported outbreaks in the Western Pacific Region. Despite the depletion of the global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) by March, the WHO exceeded its emergency target of 5 million doses in early June 2024, with the stockpile reaching 6.2 million doses. However, demand for the vaccine continues to exceed supply, with requests for 92 million doses since January 2023, nearly double the production during this period.
The WHO and its partners are collaborating to find sustainable solutions to combat cholera and ensure adequate vaccine supplies.
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