Cholera Claims 16 Lives in Bauchi as 398 Suspected Cases Recorded
The Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has confirmed 398 suspected cholera cases across 13 local government areas of the state, with 16 deaths recorded, representing a case fatality rate of four per cent.
The Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam, disclosed this in an outbreak notification titled, “Declaration of Cholera Outbreak in Bauchi State,” dated August 1, 2026, and addressed to development partners and donor agencies.
According to the ministry, six local government areas are currently the most affected. Toro recorded the highest number with 231 cases, followed by Alkaleri and Kirfi with 46 cases each. Ganjuwa recorded 21 cases, while Bauchi and Tafawa Balewa recorded 14 cases each as of July 31, 2026.
The declaration followed an increase in reported cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea and laboratory confirmation of cholera cases across the state.
“The Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes to inform the general public and our development partners that, following an increase in reported cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) and the laboratory confirmation of cholera cases, the Honourable Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, based on the recommendation of the State Epidemiology Team and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, has officially declared a cholera outbreak in the state,” the notification stated.
Dambam said six cases of Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa had so far been confirmed through polymerase chain reaction testing, providing evidence of active cholera transmission in the state.
“To date, six PCR-confirmed cases of Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa have been identified. These laboratory findings provide definitive evidence of cholera transmission in the state,” he said.
The commissioner explained that the declaration was made in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005), the National Technical Guidelines for Cholera Preparedness and Response, and the public health emergency management procedures of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
He added that the confirmation of the six PCR-positive cases, alongside the rising number of suspected cases across multiple local government areas, met the epidemiological and laboratory requirements for the official declaration of a cholera outbreak, in line with guidelines from the World Health Organisation and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dambam said the state government had activated a coordinated multisectoral response to contain the outbreak, covering disease surveillance, laboratory services, case management, water, sanitation and hygiene, infection prevention and control, logistics, risk communication and community engagement.
He disclosed that Rapid Response Teams had been deployed to affected local government areas, while treatment centres had been strengthened and essential medical supplies mobilised to support the response.
The commissioner, however, appealed to development partners and donor agencies to support the state government’s efforts with additional resources and technical expertise to ensure an effective and coordinated response to the outbreak.
He urged residents to maintain proper hygiene and cooperate with health officials as authorities intensify efforts to contain the spread of the disease.