Adamawa State has received 200,000 cholera vaccine doses from UNICEF to combat the outbreak in four Local Government Areas – Yola-North, Yola-South, Fufore, and Girei.
According to Health Commissioner Dr. Felix Tangwani, more doses are expected. The vaccination drive aims to boost immunity in affected areas.
Lab tests confirmed 30 out of 50 samples sent to Abuja’s National Reference Laboratory were positive for cholera, with six negative, two pending confirmation, and 12 awaiting results.
He emphasized that with the outcome of the result “we now confirm that we have an outbreak of cholera in Adamawa”.
According to him, as a result of the outbreak, 12 persons died, six at the facility and six at home.
“An accurate diagnosis is what gives the basis of treatment, if there is a wrong diagnosis, it may easily become deadly or fatal.
“And that is what we cannot afford to do because we were trained to ensure there is accuracy so that lives are not threatened,” he noted.
The state government is working tirelessly to contain the cholera outbreak. A Rapid Response team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is en route to support the state’s technical team.
Dr. Felix Tangwami, Health Commissioner, urges residents to remain calm and cooperate with health workers during sensitization efforts.
He advises citizens to prioritize personal hygiene, particularly by verifying the safety of their drinking water sources.
