Cholera Outbreak Claims 14 Lives as Plateau Records 441 Suspected Cases

(Diagnostic Test. Photo by The Sun Nigeria)
Commissioner for Health in Plateau State, Dr. Nicholas Ba'amlong, has disclosed that the state has recorded 441 suspected cholera cases and 14 d£aths across four local government areas since the outbreak of the disease in June.

Giving the update in Jos on Monday, Ba'amlong confirmed 20 positive Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) cases and six laboratory-confirmed cases through culture, with infections spread across 25 wards and 107 settlements.

He said the state government is intensifying emergency response measures to curb further spread of the disease.

According to him, only three patients remain on admission in Jos North Local Government Area, a development he described as an indication that the government's interventions were yielding results.

Ba'amlong said the disease was first isolated in Mangu Local Government Area in early June 2026, prompting the ministry to activate a coordinated multi-sectoral emergency response in collaboration with local government councils, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and development partners.

He described Mangu as the epicentre of the outbreak, noting that the area recorded 53 suspected cases, with 10 testing positive through Rapid Diagnostic Tests and four confirmed by laboratory culture, alongside 10 d£aths recorded across nine wards and 64 settlements.

He added that there is currently no active cholera case in Mangu, with the last reported case recorded on July 22, 2026.

He said Jos North LGA has recorded 277 suspected cases, seven positive Rapid Diagnostic Tests, one laboratory-confirmed case, and four d£aths, affecting 61 settlements across 14 wards.

In Jos South LGA, only one confirmed case was recorded, and the patient was said to have been successfully treated and discharged without any fatality.

Barkin Ladi LGA recorded its first case on July 16, with 23 suspected cases, two positive Rapid Diagnostic Tests, no laboratory-confirmed case, and no d£ath reported, with two settlements in one ward affected.

The commissioner warned that even though transmission had been interrupted in Mangu, infections continue to be recorded in Jos North, Jos South and Barkin Ladi, pointing to ongoing transmission in some communities.

Ba'amlong attributed many of the fatalities to late presentation at health facilities, urging residents to seek immediate medical attention as soon as cholera symptoms are noticed.

He said the government has intensified active case searches, expanded community surveillance, strengthened disease reporting across health facilities, and ensured the continuous availability of Oral Rehydration Salts, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and other essential medical supplies.

He assured residents of Jos North that additional Oral Rehydration Points would be established in the area, while free or subsidised treatment continues at designated cholera treatment centres.

Ba'amlong disclosed that healthcare workers in Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Jos North were being trained with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, while Rapid Diagnostic Test kits had been distributed to all affected local government areas to improve early detection.

He further assured residents that the state government would sustain its collaboration with the NCDC, WHO, UNICEF and other development partners until the outbreak is fully contained, urging the public to maintain proper hygiene, drink safe water and report suspected cases promptly.