Gombe Treats 74 Patients After Confirming Cholera Outbreak

According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Wednesday October 21, 2026, the Gombe State Government has confirmed a cholera outbreak in Kedo village, Todi Ward, Billiri Local Government Area, after reports of diarrhoea and vomiting that led to two deaths on October 4.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adamu-Danladi Bojude, announced the outbreak during a media briefing in Gombe on Wednesday.

He said 74 patients had received treatment and been discharged, with no one in hospital at the time of the briefing.

Since then, 74 persons were treated and discharged, and there is nobody currently on admission, Bojude said.

According to the commissioner, the state government deployed a Rapid Response Team after receiving reports of illness in the community.

The team supported local government health workers in investigating the outbreak and providing free treatment to affected residents.

Patients were treated at the Primary Health Centre in Sheila, Bojude said.

Bojude said Gombe had recorded seven consecutive days without a new case as of October 21. He expressed optimism that the outbreak could be declared over if no further cases were reported by October 24.

The two deaths were reported on October 4, but the commissioner did not provide further information about the deceased or the circumstances surrounding their illnesses. He also did not state how many suspected cases had been investigated in total.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection that can spread through contaminated food or water. Public health responses typically focus on prompt treatment, safe water, sanitation and hygiene, alongside surveillance to detect additional cases.

The state government’s announcement that no patients remained admitted and that no new cases had been recorded for a week indicates that the immediate treatment response had stabilized, though health authorities were continuing to monitor the situation.

The outbreak would not be considered over until the state’s stated period passed without another case.

Bojude’s briefing did not include details on water and sanitation interventions in Kedo or neighbouring communities, nor whether additional public awareness activities had been launched.

The government’s response team had been tasked with supporting the local health team and treating affected residents.

Residents were urged to remain alert to symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting and seek care promptly, while health authorities continued surveillance.

Early reporting and treatment are important in limiting the spread of cholera and reducing the risk of severe illness.

The state is expected to assess the outbreak’s status after October 24, provided no new cases emerge. As of the briefing, all 74 treated patients had been discharged, and there were no active admissions.

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