The Edo State Government has reported eight suspected cases of cholera following a recent surge in cases just as Lassa fever caused 36 deaths in the state since the beginning of 2024.
The Director of Public Health at the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr Ojeifo Stephenson, who disclosed this, said the suspected cases were identified last Thursday among 16 patients admitted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
Dr Stephenson, who said Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) were conducted for all the 16 patients, explained that, “While RDTs are not confirmatory tests, eight patients tested positive, and samples from these patients have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja for confirmation.”
He emphasised that no cholera cases would be declared until the results from the National Reference Laboratory were received.
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Meanwhile, he said the state was collaborating with a World Health Organisation (WHO) team to manage the situation.
He, therefore, urged residents not to panic, assuring them that the state government, with support from WHO staff, was effectively managing the outbreak.
He further said, “We are monitoring the situation closely, and our surveillance system is active for contact tracing and line listing.”
He also advised the public to maintain hygiene, keep their environment clean and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility.
In a related development, Dr Stephenson disclosed that 36 people had died from Lassa fever in the state since the beginning of the year.
He said, “Out of 2,300 suspected cases, 226 have been confirmed. The state government is working to eradicate the rats that transmit Lassa fever to ensure the state becomes free from this disease.”
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