Cholera outbreak looms in Lagos communities, as residents use lagoon as toilet

On Jul 25, 2021

Cholera outbreak looms in Lagos communities, as residents use canal and lagoon as toilet. Health experts are warning that Lagos may soon see a sudden rise in the number of cholera cases in some of its communities due to poor sanitation and hygiene practice.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said that, between January 2021 and June 27, a total of 14,343 suspected cases of cholera were reported from 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory and the acute diarrhoeal infection has also killed 325 people.

“Over 27.6 per cent of victims across the country are those in the five to 14 years age bracket.

“The affected states are Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Cross-River, Nasarawa, Niger and the FCT.”

According to the NCDC and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos State has not officially recorded any cholera case so far.

Health experts are, however, warning that Lagos may not escape the cholera outbreak already ravaging many states in the country, noting that poor sanitation and blocked drainage channels that have become a common sight, making the state prone to an outbreak.

Kamila/Punch