The Bauchi state government has announced that 20 people have died from a cholera outbreak which started on the 11th May 2021.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aliyu Muhammed Maigoro said 322 cases have been reported in 9 local governments of the state.

Dr Maigoro who briefed newsmen in his office at the state ministry of health said ” the state ministry of health was notified of a sporadic cases of gastroenteritis in Magam community, Burra district of Ningi local government area. This followed increase in the number of cases above normal from the community with a total of 18 cases.”

The honourable commissioner said the index cases was a 37 years old housewife who presented at Burra General Hospital on 24th April, 2021. He said the patient and others who reported at the hospital have been treated and discharged.

Dr. Maigoro further states that ” following intensified surveillance activities as a result of the report from Burra, some cases were also reported in Warji, Bauchi, Glade and Toro local governments. 21 samples have so far been collected and tested out of which 19 tested positive by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and culture which confirmed the presence of cholera.”

He said the state government has since swift into action to prevent further spread of the disease.