Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has activated a national cholera multi-sectoral emergency operations centre (EOC) to coordinate the response to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that Cholera, a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the organism Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food, has claimed 53 lives and affected 1,528 people across 31 states and 107 local government areas (LGAs) as of June 24.
Lagos State is currently battling an outbreak of cholera, with other states also recording cases.
The NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, addressed a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, providing updates on the situation.
“The activation of the EOC is a strategic move to strengthen our response to the outbreak and ensure a coordinated approach among all stakeholders,” Idris explained.
“We are working closely with state ministries of health, WHO, UNICEF, and other partners to contain the spread of the disease.”
The NCDC has deployed rapid response teams to support affected states, provided laboratory support for diagnosis, and distributed commodities for case management. Additionally, the agency is conducting a nationwide risk assessment and enhancing surveillance to quickly identify and respond to new cases.
The public has been advised to take preventive measures, such as drinking safe water, washing hands regularly, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms persist.
The NCDC said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to the public.
