At least 10 people have died following a cholera outbreak in Adamawa State, according to health officials.
The outbreak, which began over the weekend, has resulted in 76 confirmed cases as authorities ramp up efforts to contain its spread.
According to The PUNCH, the outbreak was first confirmed by the Chairman of Yola-North Local Government Area, Jibril Ibrahim, who reported four deaths and 40 cases as of Sunday. “The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 40, with four fatalities,” Ibrahim had stated.
However, by Monday, the situation worsened, with more deaths and cases reported. The anonymous medical official cited the reluctance of many affected individuals to seek timely medical attention.
“The problem is that many of the patients tried to treat themselves at home, using herbs and delaying proper medical intervention. By the time they arrived at the hospital, some were too weak to recover,” the doctor explained.
Efforts to prevent the outbreak began as early as August, when the state’s Commissioner of Health, Chief Felix Tangwami, initiated a campaign against water-borne diseases in response to flooding in the area. Despite these efforts, many residents did not take preventive measures seriously.
“You can take a horse to the river, but you can’t force it to drink water,” the source said, defending the state government’s role. “The ministry has educated people on what to do during flooding, but many did not act on the advice.”
Health officials are closely monitoring the situation, with samples from the affected patients testing positive for Vibrio cholerae at the Yola Specialist Hospital. Ibrahim urged the state government to take swift action to prevent further spread.
“We need immediate support from the state government and collaboration from the people of Yola North to help health workers in their efforts to control this outbreak,” he said.