Fresh cases of cholera have left 61 people dead and 50 still on admission in hospitals across Yobe State.
Confirming the figures on Friday in a statement, the state government also noted that there were 906 fresh cases.
According to NAN, Dr Muhammad Kawuwa, Commissioner for Health, said the cases of Acute Water Diarrhoea (AWD) reported in parts of the state were later confirmed to be cholera after laboratory tests.
He said: “Some of the AWD cases were caused by Vibrio bacterae, the bacteria that cause cholera. Over 795 patients were successfully treated and discharged, 50 are still on admission in various health facilities across the state.
“Unfortunately, we lost 61 patients mainly due to delays in timely reporting to the healthcare facilities for life saving treatment.”
He also stated that 906 cases were recorded in six local government areas: Gujba, Gulani, Damaturu, Fune, Potiskum and Nangere in two months.
Kawuwa said the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abuja were authenticating the causes of the outbreak, noting that “in the light of this and due to our continued concern for the health of our people, the state government is therefore declaring outbreak cholera in the state”.
According to the commissioner, the move became necessary ensure improved response with the support of international partners.
He identified personal hygiene, absence of sanitation facilities in the communities and flooding of water sources by the rains as possible causes of the outbreak, just as he called on Water, Sanitation and Health sector partners, religious and traditional leaders and the people to support government efforts to contain the outbreak.