Gombe State Government has confirmed a cholera outbreak in Kedo village, Todi Ward, Billiri Local Government Area, after two people reportedly died following episodes of diarrhoea and vomiting on October 4.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adamu-Danladi Bojude, disclosed this during a media briefing in Gombe on Wednesday, October 21, saying 74 patients had received treatment and been discharged, with no active admissions recorded at the time.

Also read: Ebola: Expert warns Nigerians against kissing, hugging

Bojude said the government deployed a Rapid Response Team to work with the local government health team to investigate the outbreak and provide free treatment to affected residents at the Primary Health Centre in Sheila.

“Since then, 74 persons were treated and discharged, and there is nobody currently on admission,” the commissioner said.

He added that the state had recorded seven consecutive days without a new case as of October 21, expressing optimism that the outbreak could be declared over if no further cases emerged by October 24.

“Today, being October 21, is day seven of zero cases reported. If by day 10, October 24, no case is reported, then this particular outbreak will be declared over,” he said.

The Gombe cholera outbreak has prompted the activation of an Incident Management System at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate surveillance, case detection and response measures aimed at preventing further transmission.

Bojude formally declared the outbreak in Todi Ward, Billiri LGA, and said the response system had been activated to strengthen monitoring and control efforts.

He explained that the state had strengthened cholera prevention since 2023 through an annual plan implemented by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and development partners.

According to the commissioner, the initiative covers more than 150 identified cholera hotspots across Gombe’s 11 local government areas.

He said the programme had helped reduce the frequency of outbreaks, although cases could still emerge in communities not classified as hotspots.

“This has been largely very successful and has reduced the occurrence of cholera outbreaks in the state to the barest minimum. We still have some settlements that are not classified as hotspots where we may have cases,” Bojude said.

The commissioner stressed that preparedness was essential to containing outbreaks, noting that the state’s response arrangements were designed to support prompt intervention and limit further infections.

Cholera is a bacterial disease caused by Vibrio cholerae and is commonly spread through food or water contaminated with the bacteria.

Severe cases can lead to rapid dehydration and become life-threatening without prompt treatment.

Bojude urged residents to observe proper food, personal and environmental hygiene and report suspected cases to the nearest health facility immediately.

He assured the public that treatment for suspected cholera cases would be provided free of charge and called on residents to cooperate with health authorities.