At least 274 new suspected cholera cases have been recorded in Borno State in 24 hours, bringing the total number of suspected infections to 4,204 across seven local government areas.
Health authorities also confirmed that 39 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak began. The Incident Manager of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Jacob Thlizer, disclosed this on Tuesday 2nd June during a sensitisation meeting on preventive measures and case management of acute watery diarrhoea for stakeholders across 27 local government areas in Maiduguri.
He said the new cases were reported across 36 wards in the affected areas within a single day.
A breakdown of the cases showed that Maiduguri Metropolitan Council recorded the highest number with 2,404 cases, followed by Jere with 1,214, Konduga with 275, Mafa with 184, Monguno with 90, Kaga with 18, Bama with 8, Kwaya Kusar with 8, Ngala with 2, and Magumeri with 1.
The Permanent Secretary of the Borno State Ministry of Health, Dr. Shettima Maina Mohammed, said the disease’s case fatality rate had declined to below one percent, attributing this to aggressive treatment in affected communities and sustained health awareness campaigns.
The ministry has deployed health workers, ad hoc committees, and volunteers to affected communities, and distributed preventive materials including soap, disinfectants, and chlorine to curb further spread.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has approved the distribution of drugs and medical consumables to treatment centres and affected camps.
An Emergency and Infectious Disease Centre in Njimtilo and an infectious disease camp in Ngarannam with more than 1,000 bed spaces have been activated to manage the growing number of cases.