The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) have deployed a rapid response team to Zamfara State to contain the ongoing cholera outbreak.
Since the outbreak began on January 15, more than 11,000 cases have been recorded, with a case fatality rate of 1.6 percent. All 14 local government areas have been affected, while Talata Mafara, Gusau, Bungudu, and Zurmi account for over 60 percent of the cases.
Officials noted that insecurity and humanitarian challenges have worsened the spread, making it a major public health concern. To strengthen the response, seven residents and one graduate of the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) have been deployed to high-burden areas for 14 days.
Their assignment is to support surveillance, improve case management, and coordinate with the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).
Alongside the personnel, CDC and AFENET delivered 29,500 essential medical items. These include 40,000 doses of medicines such as oral rehydration salts, Ringer’s lactate, dextrose water, and normal saline. The supplies also contained 3,900 consumables, including IV cannulas, gloves, and cotton wool; 500 infection prevention and control materials such as hand sanitizer and sodium hypochlorite; and 1,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) items, including IV giving sets.
Presenting the consignment, Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Aliyu, the Rapid Response Team Lead, handed over the supplies to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun.
She described the intervention as “massive support that will go a long way in controlling the outbreak,” assuring that the materials would be distributed judiciously to achieve the intended impact.
