The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis, confirmed to be caused by cholera, have been reported at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
This information was shared in a press statement on Sunday, signed by the State Ministry of Health’s Director of Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo.
Prof. Abayomi stated that urgent medical and environmental intervention measures have been successfully implemented. He provided this update following the “One Health” inter-governmental agency strategic meeting held over the weekend.
While no new cholera-related deaths have been reported in the last 72 hours, the government is intensifying countermeasures to eliminate transmission. Despite a reduction in new daily cases and deaths, there is evidence of ongoing low-grade community transmission.
Abayomi noted that public health interventions are showing positive results as residents adhere to safety measures and seek early medical attention when symptoms develop.
“Despite the reduction in new cases and deaths, we are still seeing low-grade community transmission. However, a small outbreak of 25 severe gastroenteritis cases at Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, confirmed to be cholera, prompted urgent medical and environmental interventions,” the statement read.
The commissioner added, “We have supplied Kirikiri Medium Prison with intravenous fluids, infection prevention supplies, and other health consumables. The World Health Organisation has also donated 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals to support the prison’s health facilities, which cater to about 3,200 inmates. Immediate water and sanitation issues have been addressed, and inspections of other correctional facilities in the state are ongoing.”
Addressing the source of the original outbreak two weeks ago, Abayomi revealed it has been traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supplies. Samples taken from popular street beverages in the affected areas confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
“Many of these street beverages lacked NAFDAC accreditation numbers, indicating they were produced by informal cottage industries. The directorate of environmental health is planning to shut down unregulated manufacturers and arrest those involved in the production or distribution of beverages without NAFDAC numbers,” Abayomi explained.
The state government, in collaboration with the Lagos Water Corporation and sanitation agencies (LAWMA and LASWAMO), is enforcing environmental health measures to ensure widespread sanitation activities, inspection, and disinfection of boreholes, among other efforts.
The Commissioner urged the public to take personal responsibility for consuming safe water, food, and beverages, maintain good personal hygiene, begin oral rehydration therapy, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting develop. He emphasized that treatment for suspected cholera is free of charge in all government hospitals.