Benue State has reported four deaths from suspected cholera cases, according to the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Henry Ijabo, News About Nigeria reports.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Ijabo disclosed that there have been 16 suspected cases identified across three local government areas: Agatu, Otukpo, and Ado.
“The death toll in these suspected cases is four,” said Ijabo. “We don’t have confirmed cases in Benue yet; all that we have are suspected cases. Out of the 16 suspected cases, four have died. They exhibited symptoms consistent with cholera, but it has not been confirmed.”
Ijabo further explained that the fatalities occurred while investigations were still ongoing to confirm the presence of cholera in the state.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to address the spread of cholera nationwide.
This call followed the adoption of a motion brought under a matter of urgent public importance during a plenary session in Abuja on Tuesday.
The motion, titled “Urgent need to check the outbreak of cholera in Lagos and other parts of the country,” was moved by the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
He emphasised the urgent need for both federal and state governments to implement measures to effectively control the cholera outbreak.
Chinda stated that the recent outbreak of cholera, initially widely reported in Lagos State, has now spread to other parts of the country, raising public health concerns.
He noted that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed the spread of the disease, with several casualties and deaths reported.
The Federal Government is urged to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life and to contain the spread of cholera in affected regions.
