The Edo State Government announced on Wednesday that eight suspected cases of cholera have been identified in the state.
This follows an earlier report of 16 suspected cases last week.
According to The PUNCH, the government has assured residents that there is no cause for panic, as it is actively managing the situation with support from the World Health Organisation.
Dr. Ojeifo Stephenson, Director of Public Health at the Edo State Ministry of Health, stated that all individuals affected by the suspected cholera cases are under close observation, along with those they have been in contact with.
“Nobody should panic. The state is doing everything to address the situation of any disease outbreak. If you want to talk of any state that is prepared to respond to an emergency, Edo State is one,” he said during a press briefing in Benin City, alongside Dr. Eyo Nora, the WHO State Coordinator.
Dr. Stephenson explained that the suspected cholera cases were initially identified when 16 patients were admitted to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital last Thursday.
Rapid Diagnostic Tests were conducted, with eight patients testing positive for cholera, although RDTs are not confirmatory. Samples from the eight patients who tested positive were sent to the National Reference Lab in Abuja for further testing. “Until that result is out, we can’t say that we have any positive cholera case in Edo State,” he clarified.
The Director of Public Health also shared that all but one of the patients admitted to UBTH have been discharged.
He added, “The surveillance system has been activated for contact tracing and line listing. We have identified all those that the patients have had contact with and also carried out community enlightenment to know what they took before the incidents.”
In addition to the suspected cholera cases, Dr. Stephenson highlighted the ongoing battle against Lassa fever in the state. So far this year, Edo State has recorded 226 confirmed cases of Lassa fever from over 2,300 suspected cases, with 36 fatalities reported.
He assured the public that efforts are underway to eradicate the Lassa fever virus from the state, stating, “We are mobilising to eradicate the causative agent to ensure Edo State is Lassa fever-free.”
The state government is urging residents to maintain good hygiene and a clean environment, and to seek immediate medical attention if any symptoms of cholera or Lassa fever are suspected.
“We urge the public to continue to maintain hygiene and clean environment, but once you have a suspected case, go to the hospital immediately,” Dr. Stephenson concluded.
