13 DEAD, 236 HOSPITALISED AS CHOLERA OUTBREAK HITS SIX LGAs IN NIGER

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

At least 13 people have died and 236 others hospitalised following a cholera outbreak across six local government areas in Niger State, officials have confirmed.

The affected councils include Chanchaga, Bosso, Shiroro, Magama, Bida, and Munya, with Chanchaga, Bosso, and Shiroro identified as the worst hit.

The outbreak, which was first reported on Sunday in Shiroro, has prompted swift intervention by the state government, which has now set up isolation and treatment centres in each of the affected areas.

The state also activated an emergency isolation centre at the old wing of the Late Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta Primary Healthcare Centre, along Old Airport Road in Minna.

Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, said the government had adopted a multi-sectoral approach to contain the epidemic, including aggressive sensitisation campaigns targeting religious institutions and traditional rulers across the eight emirates in the state.

“We have set up treatment and isolation centres to mitigate the epidemic, and we are also embarking on aggressive sensitisation exercises,” Dangana said.

He commended Governor Mohammed Bago and donor agencies for their prompt response in supporting containment efforts.

Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Tertiary Healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Idris, also confirmed the critical situation in the most affected LGAs, warning residents to adhere strictly to hygiene guidelines and report symptoms promptly.

Medical sources said the disease, a water-borne bacterial infection, has left over 239 residents battling symptoms, including severe diarrhoea and dehydration, across various healthcare facilities.

Health officials continue to urge residents to boil water, maintain sanitation, and avoid open defecation to prevent further spread.