Government activates emergency response system, deploys rapid response teams as cholera spreads across three wards in Mangu LGA.
The Plateau State Government has activated an emergency response following a worsening cholera outbreak in Mangu Local Government Area, where suspected cases have risen to 53 and five deaths have been recorded
Speaking in Jos on Monday, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, said the outbreak has spread across Pushit, Mangu 1, and Mangu 2 wards. He disclosed that 10 cases tested positive through Rapid Diagnostic Tests, while four have been confirmed through laboratory culture.
To contain the outbreak, the government has activated the Incident Management System and appointed Dr. Maren Job as Incident Manager to coordinate response activities. Additional Rapid Response Teams have been deployed, treatment centres expanded, and emergency supplies of diagnostic kits, medicines, and intravenous fluids procured.
Ba’amlong said surveillance, contact tracing, and community sensitisation efforts have been intensified, while free or subsidised treatment remains available for patients. He urged residents to drink treated water, maintain proper hygiene, and seek immediate medical attention for symptoms such as severe diarrhoea and vomiting.
The commissioner expressed confidence that ongoing collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other partners would help contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.