Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has refuted claims that the recent cholera outbreak in the state is linked to the consumption of local tiger nut drinks.
In a statement released on his X handle, Abayomi clarified that the cause of the outbreak is still under investigation.
The commissioner's announcement came on the heels of reports of fresh cholera cases in various local government areas within Lagos State, including Agege, Badagry, Ikeja, and others.
The Emergency Operations Centre, working with pertinent partners, is diligently involved in contact tracing, surveillance, and guaranteeing that confirmed cases are provided with appropriate medical care.
While there were speculations that locally-made tiger nut drinks might be the source of the outbreak, a source within the State Ministry of Health confirmed to Sunday Vanguard that the cause remains unidentified.
Abayomi himself stated, "We have not been able to identify any batch of locally made beverages that contain the cholera bacteria as of now, but we are still searching."
In a related development, an unconfirmed report suggests that Nigeria has run out of cholera vaccines, prompting calls for immediate deployment to school children.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is reportedly in the process of ordering more vaccines from donor agencies.
As the investigation into the cause of the outbreak continues, Lagos State residents are advised to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent further spread of the disease.
