In the Badagry area of Lagos, two individuals have tragically lost their lives, while five others have been hospitalized. The Medical Director of the General Hospital in Badagry, Dr. Olatunde Bakare, confirmed this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
These individuals, who were inmates, were transferred to the hospital by officials from the local Correctional Centre.
The situation is part of a larger cholera outbreak in Lagos, initially declared on June 15 with 436 suspected cases.
Within six days, the number of suspected cases rose to over 500, with 43 confirmed cases and a 5.4% fatality rate among the suspected cases.
Dr. Bakare mentioned that on July 9, six inmates from the correctional center were brought to the hospital, with one pronounced dead on arrival and another passing away the following morning in the medical facility
“The laboratory test confirmed that they had the disease and they were hospitalized at the emergency axis of the hospital.
“Another inmate was brought in the following day, making five patients receiving treatment now,” he added.
The CMD, Bakare, reported that one patient has recovered and been discharged, and praised the swift response of the Lagos State Ministry of Health in addressing the situation at the correctional centre.
He elaborated, “The ministry sent in monitoring teams of doctors and environmental service officers to the prison and the General Hospital, Badagry with necessary drugs.
“They brought intravenous fluids and consumables together with environmental improvement and water treatment measures.
‘This has led to a decline in new cases and marked improvements in the clinical state of those on admission.”
According to Naijatraffic , a correspondent witnessed five inmates from the Badagry Correctional Centre receiving treatment at the hospital’s emergency department.
Additionally, a medical doctor from Ikoyi Correctional Centre was sent to investigate the incident, and although she declined to be named, she confirmed that none of the inmates tested positive for cholera and assured that necessary measures have been taken to contain the outbreak.
