Death toll from cholera outbreak in Lagos rises to 29, says commissioner

Lagos State has reported an increase in deaths due to the ongoing cholera outbreak, with the total number now reaching 29.

This figure comes from the 579 patients treated across various healthcare facilities in the state, including general and private hospitals as well as primary healthcare centers.

During a press conference held at Alausa, Ikeja, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that many of the deaths occurred because patients arrived too late to be rehydrated, with some being brought in dead. He emphasized that the state government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Incident Commander and himself as the Deputy Incident Commander, is actively managing the situation.

Prof. Abayomi assured that treatment for cholera remains free at all state healthcare facilities to help reduce transmission rates. He mentioned that the government is still working to identify the source of the outbreak and is conducting outreach to find patients and their contacts.

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“The treatment is free in our hospital and healthcare facilities to slow down the transmission. We go out also to search for the patients and those that the patients might have been in contact with,” he stated.

Despite the ongoing outbreak, Prof. Abayomi noted a decrease in the number of new cases, with only one case reported on June 22, 2024. He also expressed relief that no cases have been reported within the state school environment since the resumption of classes.

A multi-agency approach has been adopted to tackle the outbreak, and residents are urged to practice safe drinking habits, ensure food is well-cooked, maintain a hygienic environment, and engage in frequent handwashing to curb the transmission of cholera.

The state government continues its efforts to control the outbreak, drawing on its experience from managing the COVID-19 pandemic, and remains committed to providing free treatment to all affected individuals.