5 dead, 11 confirmed cases in Plateau cholera outbreak

The Plateau State Government has confirmed the death of five persons from a cholera outbreak, with 11 cases confirmed and 53 others listed as suspected across three communities in Mangu Local Government Area of the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this to journalists on Sunday in Jos, the state capital. He said the confirmed and suspected cases were reported in Pushit, Mangu 1 and Mangu 2 communities.

According to Baamlong, the state Ministry of Health is intensifying public health interventions to contain the outbreak, prevent further spread and reduce its impact on affected communities. He explained that the state had taken decisive actions to control the outbreak and protect its citizens, including the deployment of rapid response teams, the supply of oral rehydration salts, the establishment of treatment centres and the chlorination of water sources.

The commissioner further said the ministry had activated an Incident Management System (IMS) for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response to the outbreak. He added that the IMS would coordinate case management, surveillance, laboratory services, risk communication, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions in the affected communities.

Baamlong urged residents of Mangu and the surrounding local government areas to maintain strict hygiene practices, including regular hand washing, boiling of drinking water, and proper disposal of waste. He also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and community leaders to support the public health response by ensuring that their communities comply with hygiene guidelines.

The commissioner further said the state was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and development partners to scale up laboratory testing and to ensure that suspected cases are confirmed and isolated quickly. He appealed to the public to report any case of acute watery diarrhoea to the nearest health facility.

Plateau State has experienced recurring cholera outbreaks in recent years, particularly during the rainy season. The Mangu axis is one of the worst-hit areas due to limited access to clean water, poor sanitation infrastructure and the displacement of some communities by earlier security incidents.

Sources: Vanguard