Yobe Declares Cholera Outbreak over

Michael Olugbode in Damaturu

The Yobe State Government on Tuesday officially declared an end to cholera outbreak in the state.

This is coming after the disease was reported in five local government areas of the state with a total of 404 cases including 16 associated deaths with a case fatality ratio of 3.7 per cent recorded.

Addressing a press conference in Damaturu, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bello Kawuwa, said that there has not been any new case of suspected cholera in the state in the last 21 days, which qualifies for the outbreak to be declared over.

He said the case of the outbreak was first noticed on March 28, 2018 in Gashua town, Bade Local Government Area of the state, with 16 deaths reported across the state.

Kawuwa said: “On the 28th of March 2018, in Gashua town, Bade Local Government Area, the state Ministry of Health got information that some 33 persons had symptoms suspected to be cholera with five associated deaths.

“The LGA Rapid Response Team responded immediately and thereafter, an already prepared Ministry of Health activated the state Rapid Response Team that were deployed to support the LGA in response efforts.”

He revealed that: “The outbreak first reported in Gashua town of Bade with subsequent spread to Karasuwa, Jakusko, Yusufari and Bursari Local Government Areas of the state, a total of 404 cases including 16 associated deaths with a case fatality ratio of 3.7 per cent was recorded.

“Bade LGA reported 379 cases in six wards, 16 cases in Karasuwa, four in Jakusko, three in Yusufari and two in Bursari.”

The commissioner declared that by all standards, the response activities were a huge success being able to keep mortality very low.

He said a cholera vaccination exercise was conducted in the six most affected zones where over 125,000 people received the Oral Cholera Vaccine.

He said: “As we speak now, it has been more than 21 days without report of any suspected case of cholera in Yobe State. According to epidemiological standard, when the number of suspected cases in the epidemic area significantly declines and all sample for suspected cholera cases tested were negative by RDT, culture or PCR for a minimum period of two weeks, the outbreak can be considered ended.

“Hence, we are here today to officially declare the cholera outbreak over.”