Lagos links cholera outbreak to street beverages, contaminated water

The Lagos State Government has said the original source of the cholera outbreak has been traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supplies.

The state, through the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, also reported that 25 cases of severe gastroenteritis were confirmed to be caused by cholera at Kirikiri Correctional Centre and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has provided additional support by donating pharmaceutical products for treatment and to forestall further spread.

Abayomi announced a significant improvement in daily cholera cases from the spike reported two weeks ago, but acknowledged evidence of ongoing low-grade community transmission because few cases are still presenting to our hospitals.

The commissioner disclosed this while providing an update on the cholera outbreak following the “One Health” inter-governmental agency strategic meeting held over the weekend.

He revealed that although no new cholera-related deaths have been reported in the last 72 hours, the government was intensifying countermeasures to eliminate transmission.

Abayomi noted that the reduction in new daily cases and the absence of new deaths indicate interventions are bearing dividends but more importantly, residents are adhering to public health information and advice on safety measures and the need for early presentation to health facilities when symptoms develop.

“We were able to supply Kirikiri medium prison with intravenous fluids, infection prevention and other health consumables. Additionally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has donated 10,000 doses of pharmaceuticals, which have been delivered to the prison, to support prison health facilities with prevention strategies for about 3,200 inmates if required. Immediate water and sanitation issues have been corrected and there are ongoing inspections of other correctional facilities in the state,” the commissioner said.

Addressing the source of the original outbreak two weeks ago, Abayomi disclosed that it has been traced to unregulated street beverages and contaminated water supplies.

He explained that many of the samples taken from popular street beverages purchased by undercover environmental officers from the Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Ministry of Health in the affected areas confirmed the presence of vibrio cholerae bacteria, which is the cause of Cholera.

“All of the containers had no NAFDAC accreditation numbers, indicating they are small cottage backyard informal production units. Identifying the precise location of manufacture has proven difficult and the directorate of environmental health is planning to seal any such unregulated manufacture and make arrests of anybody involved with the manufacture or distribution of beverages without NAFDAC numbers”, Abayomi said.

He noted that the state government, through its interagency “One Health” approach, is enforcing environmental health countermeasures in collaboration with Lagos Water Corporation and sanitation agencies—the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LASWAMO)—to ensure widespread sanitation activities, inspection and disinfection of boreholes, the supply of potable water to affected local governments, and enforcement and stricter regulations on local beverage manufacturers.

“Henceforth, and as approved by Mr. Governor, a higher sanitary and regulatory standard of eateries, food handlers, beverage manufacturers and groundwater will be implemented and enforced to curb the burden of food and water-borne diseases in Lagos,” he added.

The commissioner stressed the need for continued vigilance and adherence to public health precautionary measures, and in addition to government interventions, he implored the public to also take personal responsibility for consuming safe water, food and beverages, ensuring good personal hygiene, starting oral rehydration therapy and presenting immediately to hospitals if symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting develop.

He noted that treatment of suspected Cholera remains free of charge in all government hospitals.

Abayomi indicated that there was no need for the public to panic, expressing optimism that with continued collaboration, vigilance and commitment from all stakeholders, the state is taking decisive actions to effectively combat and control the spread of cholera, safeguarding the health and well-being of its residents.