By Maryanne Awuya
Cholera is spreading rapidly across Borno State, killing at least 39 people and infecting 4,204 others.
The crisis is escalating quickly, with health officials recording 274 new cases in just 24 hours.
The grim update was shared on Tuesday by Dr. Jacob Thlizer, the state’s Public Health Emergency Incident Manager, during a Maiduguri meeting focused on curbing acute watery diarrhea.
Thlizer noted that the outbreak has penetrated 36 wards across multiple local government areas, hit hardest in regions like Jere, Bama, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, and Konduga.
According to the breakdown provided, MMC recorded the highest number with 2,404 cases, followed by Jere with 1,214, Konduga 275, Mafa 184, Monguno 90, Kaga 18, Bama eight, Kwaya Kusar eight, Ngala two and Magumeri one.
Thlizer said the state had stepped up its response by activating its Incident Management System, engaging health partners through coordination meetings, intensifying public awareness in affected communities, and supplying essential materials to treatment centres.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Shetima Muhammad, also said the government had strengthened response capacity with the establishment of treatment facilities, including the Emergency and Infectious Disease Centre in Njimtilo and a 1,000-bed cholera camp in Ngarannam.
He added that Gov. Babagana Zulum had approved the deployment of drugs and medical supplies to centres managing cholera patients across the state.
Residents were urged to prioritise hygiene and report symptoms early to nearby health facilities.
The Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, assured that the administration would continue supporting health institutions to control the outbreak and prevent further spread.
Persecondnews report that the cholera outbreak in Borno has worsened months after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) placed 10 states on alert over possible outbreaks linked to forecasts of heavy rainfall and flooding.
The agency had earlier listed Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Kwara as high-risk states, warning that flooding could contaminate water sources and increase the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Although Borno State was not among the NCDC’s initial 10 high-risk states for cholera, it suffers a severe outbreak due to its proximity to the high-risk areas, heavy rainfall, and compromised sanitation in overcrowded displacement camps.