Plateau records 11 confirmed cholera cases, five deaths in Mangu LGA

Plateau State has recorded 11 confirmed cases of cholera and five deaths, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.

The disclosure was made by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Jos.

The confirmed cases and fatalities were reported alongside 53 suspected cases in Pushit, Mangu 1, and Mangu 2 communities of Mangu Local Government Area. Cholera, a waterborne disease, thrives in areas with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

Baamlong said the state Ministry of Health had scaled up public health interventions to contain the outbreak, prevent further spread, and reduce its impact on affected communities.

According to him, the government has deployed additional Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to affected wards, expanded treatment centres and isolation capacity, and commenced emergency procurement of Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, intravenous fluids, and other essential medicines.

The commissioner added that the ministry had activated an Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate a comprehensive and multisectoral response to the outbreak.

Baamlong urged residents of affected and neighbouring communities to drink safe water, maintain proper hygiene, avoid open defecation, and ensure proper waste disposal.

He explained that cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae.

Nigeria remains vulnerable to cholera outbreaks due to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, seasonal flooding, and population displacement in some regions.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and health authorities expanded treatment capacity while intensifying surveillance, hygiene promotion, and vaccination planning.

The outbreak highlighted the continued risk of cholera transmission in communities with limited access to clean water and sanitation services.

Cholera remains a recurring public health risk in Nigeria, especially during the rainy season when flooding, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water increase transmission.

It spreads through contaminated food and water, with vulnerable communities lacking basic Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure most affected, while rural and displaced populations face higher risk due to limited healthcare access. Health experts continue to call for improved sanitation and access to safe water.

While cholera cases persist, Nigeria continues to monitor other infectious disease threats, including Ebola, following regional alerts.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed no Ebola cases in the country, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has strengthened screening at international entry points as a precaution. This follows renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa and ongoing World Health Organization (WHO)–led preparedness efforts.