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 on Friday, a total of 24 people had died from the disease as of June 19, 2024.
The report indicated that 417 suspected cases have been recorded, with 35 confirmed cases across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas.
On Thursday, Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, reported that fatalities had increased to 21 from 15, with 350 suspected cases.
She noted that Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa had the highest numbers of cases.
Ogunyemi, providing an update after meeting with members of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), attributed the rise in cases to the Ileya festivities, which involved large gatherings.
She mentioned that suspected cases were decreasing across the LGAs, especially in previously affected areas, due to state government interventions and surveillance efforts.
The special adviser emphasized that the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Health and other agencies, was maintaining rigorous surveillance and monitoring the situation, implementing planned programs and activities to curb the spread.
“The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and its agency, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), continues to collect samples of water sources, food, and beverages to identify the source of contamination. We have also intensified our surveillance activities in communities, particularly in affected local government areas, to address the situation head-on.
“We are also working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education as well as the Ministry of Tertiary Education to ensure all precautions are taken in our schools to protect children and scholars as they return. Residents must, however, remain vigilant, practice good hand hygiene, and participate in community sanitation activities to stop the spread of cholera,” the Special Adviser stated.
She advised citizens to seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms such as watery diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, general malaise, and fever, emphasizing that cholera treatment is provided free of charge at all public health facilities.
Noting that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to ensuring residents of Lagos receive quality and affordable health care, the special adviser expressed gratitude to local, national, and international partners—including UNICEF, WHO, NCDC, NIMR, Red Cross, and others—for their support in combating the outbreak.
“Appreciation is also extended to the dedicated team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, environmental health officers, Water Corporation officers, surveillance officers, heads of agencies, members of PHEOC, and volunteers who are working around the clock to combat the disease and keep Lagos safe,” Ogunyemi said.
The Ogun State Government has also confirmed an outbreak of cholera, which has claimed the life of a 62-year-old woman and resulted in the hospitalization of five people, according to the state’s Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a cumulative total of 194,897 deaths and 1,932 cases globally due to the cholera outbreak.
A statement from WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region indicated that these outbreaks occurred between January 1, 2024, and May 26, 2024.
The cases were reported in 24 countries across five WHO regions, with the highest numbers recorded in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, and the European Region.
No outbreaks were reported in the Western Pacific Region during this period.
“The global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) was depleted until early March but exceeded the emergency target of 5 million doses in early June for the first time in 2024. As of 10 June 2024, the stockpile has 6.2 million doses. However, demand for the vaccine continues to outpace supply. Since January 2023, 92 million OCV doses were requested by 16 countries, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during this period,” it said.
By March, the UN health agency announced it had exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV). However, it managed to exceed its emergency target of five million doses by early June for the first time in 2024.
WHO reported that 16 countries had requested 92 million doses of OCV since January of the previous year, nearly double the 49 million doses produced during that time.
The organization stated it was collaborating with partners, such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and others, to utilize resources and develop long-term solutions for cholera.