Gombe State authorities have officially confirmed a cholera outbreak in Kedo village, situated within Todi Ward of Billiri Local Government Area. Punch reported that the declaration follows two deaths from diarrhoea and vomiting on October 4. Prof. Adamu-Danladi Bojude, the state’s health commissioner, announced the news during a Wednesday media briefing in Gombe. He noted that 74 individuals had received treatment and were discharged, with no patients currently admitted to care.
According to Punch, state officials rapidly deployed a response team to assist local health workers. This group investigated the source and offered free care at the Primary Health Centre in Sheila. Bojude indicated that the state had gone seven days without new infections as of October 21. He predicted the crisis would conclude by October 24 if the zero-case streak continued through the tenth day of monitoring.
The health chief outlined a prevention strategy launched in 2023. Punch noted that the Ministry of Health works with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and other partners on this annual plan. The program targets over 150 high-risk zones across the state’s 11 districts. Bojude claimed this effort has minimized outbreak frequency, though some non-designated settlements still face risks.
To manage the current situation, the government engaged an Incident Management System at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. This setup coordinates surveillance and response efforts. Bojude described cholera as a bacterial disease spread via contaminated food or water, noting it can kill quickly without proper care. He advised residents to improve hygiene habits and visit nearby clinics for free treatment.
The commissioner emphasized that preparedness is key to controlling such epidemics. He assured the public that the state’s mechanisms allow for swift intervention. By activating the management system, officials aim to contain the spread efficiently while monitoring the situation until the October 24 deadline.