The World Health Organization, (WHO) has declared Yobe State free of cholera after the breakout in March this year.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Kawuwa stated this while briefing newsmen in Damaturu on Tuesday, June 12, 3018, on the collective efforts put in place to stem the spread of the disease in the state.
According to him, on March 28, 2018 a cholera outbreak was first reported in Gashua and subsequently spread to other parts of the state with a total number of 404 cases including 16 associated deaths with a case fatality ratio of 3.7 per cent was recorded.
He said in an effort to curtail future occurrence, a Cholera Treatment Centre was established within the General Hospital at Gashua with the support of WHO.
Dr. Kawuwa lauded the efforts of the State Government, United Nations agencies and all humanitarian actors for their technical support, guidance and strengthening of surveillance and preventive measures to avert disease outbreak throughout the state.
“We intensified surveillance activities for early detection, active cases search, targeting response to locations, reporting cases, hygiene and sanitation promotion among others were instrumental to early control.“With the disease significantly declining and all sample from suspected cholera cases negative by Rapid Diagnostic Test, (RDT), that means the outbreak can be considered ended, hence, we are here today to officially declare cholera outbreak over,” he said.