BAUCHI GOVT DECLARES CHOLERA OUTBREAK, RECORDS 16 DEATHS
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
The Bauchi State Government has officially declared a cholera outbreak following a rise in cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea and laboratory confirmation of active cholera transmission across the state.
The declaration was contained in an official document dated August 1, 2026, titled ‘Declaration of Cholera Outbreak in Bauchi State.’ The document was signed by the Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Sani Dambam, and addressed to development partners and relevant agencies.
According to the document, “Following an increase in reported cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) and the laboratory confirmation of cholera cases, the Honourable Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, based on the recommendation of the State Epidemiology Team and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, has officially declared a cholera outbreak in the state.
“This declaration is made in line with the International Health Regulations (2005), the National Technical Guidelines for Cholera Preparedness and Response, and the established public health emergency management procedures of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.”
The document stated that, in line with guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the confirmation of six PCR-positive cholera cases, alongside a rising number of suspected cases across multiple local government areas, met the epidemiological and laboratory criteria for declaring an outbreak.
As of July 31, 2026, Bauchi State had recorded 398 suspected cholera cases across 13 Local Government Areas, with 16 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of four per cent.
The most affected LGAs are Toro, with 231 cases; Alkaleri and Kirfi, with 46 cases each; Ganjuwa, with 21 cases; while Bauchi and Tafawa Balewa recorded 14 cases each.
Dambam said the state government had activated a coordinated multi-sectoral response covering governance and coordination, disease surveillance, laboratory services, case management, water, sanitation and hygiene, infection prevention and control, logistics, risk communication and community engagement.
He added that Rapid Response Teams had been deployed to affected LGAs, treatment centres strengthened and essential medical supplies mobilised to support the outbreak response.
The commissioner also called on stakeholders and development partners to support the state’s efforts by mobilising resources and providing technical expertise to ensure an effective and coordinated response to the outbreak.
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