The Borno government says no fewer than 287,708 people in the state have been vaccinated against cholera.

Commissioner for Health Baba Gana disclosed this on Friday when he officially declared a cholera outbreak in the state.

Mr Gana said the immunisation started on September 25 and was 96 per cent successful.

The commissioner added that the proactive measures the state and other stakeholders took were responsible for the zero mortality recorded.

“So far, no death was recorded out of the 17 confirmed cases from the most affected local government areas of Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa, Konduga, and Monguno.

“The state had received 300,000 doses of oral cholera vaccines (OCV) from the Federal Ministry of Health, which were distributed to displaced persons camps and flood-affected communities.

“The state is still expecting an additional 600,000 doses of OCV. However, we are still recording an increasing number of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), which is not unconnected to the flood devastation,” he said.

The commissioner urged the public to take precautionary measures, particularly hygiene and sanitation.

He charged the media to partner with the government to provide adequate public awareness and preventive measures. 

(NAN)