The cholera outbreak in  Lagos State has escalated, with the number of suspected cases rising to 401 and resulting in 21 fatalities.

The increase was confirmed by Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the  Lagos State Governor on Health, in a recent update.

Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa local government areas have recorded the highest numbers of cases.

Cholera is a water and food-borne disease caused by ingesting the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It results in severe acute watery diarrhoea, which can be fatal if untreated.

The rise in cases was anticipated due to the large gatherings during the Ileya festivities, which likely facilitated the spread of the bacteria.

She said the  Lagos State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with other agencies, is actively conducting surveillance and monitoring the outbreak.

According to her, water sources, food, and beverages are being sampled to identify the contamination source.

“The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment and its agency, the  Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, continues to collect samples of water sources, food, and beverages to identify the source of contamination.

“We have also intensified our surveillance activities in communities, particularly in affected local government areas, to address the situation head-on.

We are also working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education as well as the Ministry of Tertiary Education to ensure all precautions are taken in our schools to protect children and scholars as they return.

“Residents must, however, remain vigilant, practice good hand hygiene, and participate in community sanitation activities to stop the spread of cholera,” she stated.

Dr. Ogunyemi expressed gratitude to local, national, and international partners, including UNICEF, WHO, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and others, for their support in combating the outbreak.