In a situation report presented by Mrs. Titilope Akinleye, the Oyo State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, it was revealed that as of September, a total of 201 suspected cholera cases were recorded in Oyo State, with only one confirmed death from the disease.
Mrs. Akinleye disclosed this during an emergency cholera meeting held at the Oyo Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. The meeting had representatives from the Ministries of Environment, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Education, and Health, as well as stakeholders from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Red Cross, and IVN in attendance.
She stated that in the 39th week of the year, specifically the last week of September, 79 suspected cases were reported, out of which five were confirmed positive for cholera, with one death among the confirmed cases in Ibadan North Local Government Area.
According to Mrs. Akinleye, the local governments with the highest number of suspected cholera cases include Ibadan North West (14), Ibadan South West (15), Ido (87), Akinyele (38), Ibadan North East (13), and Lagelu (10). “Most of the confirmed cases of cholera were from Ibadan South West Local Government, followed by Ido Local Government,” she added. The report indicated that younger people, mostly under 40, were disproportionately affected.
She further highlighted the efforts of the cholera working group, which was activated in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and RUWASA. Their activities include active case search, contact tracing, public awareness campaigns, distribution of infection prevention materials, and provision of intravenous fluids at holding facilities.
In a separate report, Oyo State Epidemiologist, Dr. Abibat Kareem, shared that 76 patients with suspected cholera were treated at the Infectious Disease Centre in Olodo. “Out of these, 62 patients were discharged, and thankfully, no deaths were recorded,” Dr. Kareem said.
Dr. Akintunde Babatunde, Director of Primary Health at the Oyo State Ministry of Health, emphasized that the cholera outbreak stemmed from severe lapses in personal and environmental hygiene across the affected local governments. He pointed out that efforts had been intensified in Akinyele LGA, where the cholera spread had been halted, following the government’s intervention to provide clean water, fumigate the environment, and chlorinate open wells.
Dr. Babatunde warned, “Cholera is a highly contagious disease that can kill quickly due to severe vomiting and diarrhea. It’s crucial that individuals take preventive measures such as regular handwashing with soap, avoiding food prepared outside the home, and being cautious about the source of their drinking water.”
He stressed the importance of public education, noting that despite effective case management, breaking the transmission chain would be difficult without significant public awareness campaigns about cholera prevention.
