A devastating cholera outbreak has struck northeastern Nigeria, just weeks after a massive flood devastated the region.
The outbreak has been exacerbated by the damage to sanitary facilities and the public water system caused by the flooding.
Elyakub Yakubu Mohammed, head of the Nigerian Medical Association in Borno state, reported that 451 suspected cases of cholera have been identified among thousands of displaced people in the area.
Of the 128 samples tested, 128 have been confirmed positive through rapid diagnostic tests.
The outbreak has spread to four provinces in Borno state, prompting authorities to take urgent action.
Baba Mala Gana, Borno’s commissioner for health and human service, announced in the state capital Maiduguri that the outbreak has spread to four provinces after massive flooding last month.
To combat the outbreak, authorities are calling for strengthened water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, as well as intensified vaccination campaigns and public education efforts.
The goal is to prevent the further spread of cholera and provide essential medical care to those affected.