The Bauchi State Government has officially declared a cholera outbreak following a surge in reported cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea and laboratory confirmation of active cholera transmission across the state.

The declaration was contained in an official document dated August 1, 2026, titled ‘Declaration of Cholera Outbreak in Bauchi State.’ The document was signed by the Bauchi Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Sani Dambam, and addressed to development partners and relevant agencies.

According to the document, “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.

“This declaration is made in line with the International Health Regulations (2005), the National Technical Guidelines for Cholera Preparedness and Response, and the established public health emergency management procedures of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.”

The document further stated that, in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the confirmation of six PCR-positive cholera cases, alongside the increasing number of suspected cases across multiple local government areas, meets the epidemiological and laboratory criteria for the official declaration of a cholera outbreak in Bauchi State.

It added that as of July 31, 2026, the state had recorded 398 suspected cholera cases across 13 Local Government Areas, with 16 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of four per cent.

The six most affected LGAs are Toro, which recorded 231 cases; Alkaleri and Kirfi, with 46 cases each; Ganjuwa, with 21 cases; while Bauchi and Tafawa Balewa LGAs recorded 14 cases each.

Dambam said the state government has activated a coordinated multi-sectoral response involving governance and coordination, disease surveillance, laboratory services, case management, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infection prevention and control, logistics, risk communication, and community engagement.

He added that Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to the affected LGAs, treatment centres have been strengthened, and essential medical supplies have been mobilised to support effective outbreak response.

The commissioner also called on all stakeholders and development partners to support the government’s efforts by mobilising resources and providing technical expertise to ensure a well-coordinated response to the outbreak. (Channels TV)

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