The Bauchi State Government has officially declared a cholera outbreak. The declaration follows a spike in reported cases of acute watery diarrhoea and laboratory confirmation of active cholera transmission across the state, formally recognising that the disease is spreading.
The declaration was contained in an official document dated 1 August, titled Declaration of Cholera Outbreak in Bauchi State. The document was signed by the state's Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Dabam, and addressed to development partners and relevant agencies.
According to the details released, as of 31 July the state had recorded 398 suspected cholera cases. The cases were spread across 13 local government areas, pointing to transmission that is no longer confined to a single community.
The outbreak has so far been linked to 16 deaths. Of the affected areas, six local government areas have been identified as the most affected, and the concentration of cases in those areas has shaped the focus of the response.
In response to the situation, the state government said it has activated a coordinated, multi-sectoral response. The effort brings together government structures alongside disease surveillance and laboratory capacity to track and contain the spread.
Dr Dabam called on all stakeholders and development partners to support the government's efforts against the outbreak. He said their involvement would be central to bringing the situation under control.
Specifically, the commissioner appealed for the mobilisation of resources and the provision of technical expertise. He said this support was needed to ensure a well-coordinated response to the outbreak across the affected local government areas.