Lagos Cholera death toll rises to 24, 417 suspected cases reported

By Sodiq Adelakun

The cholera outbreak in Lagos State has claimed 24 lives, according to the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi. Abayomi disclosed this on his Instagram handle on Friday, adding that 35 cases have been confirmed out of 417 suspected cases across 20 Local Government Areas in the state.

The Commissioner urged residents to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, emphasizing that cholera can be prevented with proper sanitation and hygiene practices.

Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by ingesting the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, which can cause severe acute watery diarrhea and kill within hours if left untreated.

The World Health Organization has also reported a spike in cholera cases globally, with almost 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of 2024.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region has been the most affected, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the Southeast Asia Region, and the European Region.