Oyo State Urges Vigilance Over Suspected Cholera Outbreak

The Oyo State Government has urged residents to be vigilant and adopt precautionary measures to prevent a potential cholera outbreak.

Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the State’s Commissioner for Health, appealed while visiting a private hospital in Ibadan where two suspected cholera cases were being treated.

Dr Ajetunmobi explained that cholera is a bacterial infection spread through food or water contaminated by the faeces of an infected person.

She emphasised that cholera is highly infectious and can lead to severe acute diarrhoea and dehydration and may also cause nausea, vomiting, and fever.

The Commissioner identified the suspected cases in Ibadan as male construction workers from Lekki Peninsula, Lagos State, receiving treatment at a private facility.

She reassured the public that there was no cause for alarm as the ministry and its partners were actively managing the situation.

According to her, the response efforts included the deployment of LGA DSNO, promotional jingles in English and Yoruba running in different media houses, the immediate inauguration of the Cholera Technical Working Group, and putting IDC Olodo into an active mode for isolation and management.

She also mentioned additional measures, such as intensifying surveillance activities through LGA surveillance officers, updating community informants on cholera case definitions, and raising awareness among community leaders and established structures.

The Commissioner urged everyone to prioritise safety by drinking water from clean sources and practising good hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap and water.

She advised anyone experiencing symptoms to avoid self-medication and seek immediate medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility.

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