At least 10 people, mainly women, children, and the elderly, have lost their lives to an acute diarrhoea disease sweeping through Yola North and Yola South Local Government areas of Adamawa State.
The casualty figure may rise as some hospitalized victims are in critical condition.
According to State Commissioner for Health, Felix Tangwami, over 300 people have been admitted to Yola Specialist Hospital, with many more receiving treatment.
He said while some patients have been discharged, fresh cases are still being recorded.
Tangwami assured that the government is taking all necessary measures to contain the outbreak.
However, the commissioner cautioned against speculation regarding the outbreak’s cause.
Tangwami urged the public to rely on expert advice and avoid spreading misinformation, particularly regarding health concerns.
The casualty figure might be higher as some of the victims in the hospital were on danger lists.
The state Commissioner for Health, Mr Felix Tangwami confirmed the development to newsmen in Yola, yesterday while giving an update on the acute digestive disorder situation that erupted in the areas on Monday.
He said already 300 others were admitted at the Yola Specialist hospital even as many were on danger list.
The commissioner stated that some of patients have been treated and discharged, while fresh cases are been recorded.
He said: “Those on danger with serious cases have been isolated for medical attention at the Infectious Disease Center of the Specialist Hospital.
“The situation though rough, but it is still within the scope of the government as everything humanly possible is being done to contain the outbreak.
”The Government is not hiding anything rather following due process in handling sensitive life threatening health concerns with the hope to know the outcome of the result of the samples in the next 24 hours from the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.
“For now, nobody can confirm that what we are facing is cholera outbreak until all necessary analysis is conducted thoroughly and results are out.
“We don’t have the PCR equipment for testing the collected samples here in Yola. So, we have to send it to Abuja for confirmation which would be ready in the next 48 hours.”
