The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed the development during a briefing in Jos on Monday, saying the situation is serious but still under control with coordinated intervention.
He explained that the outbreak, which initially involved only eight suspected cases, has now spread to Pushit, Mangu 1, and Mangu 2 wards, raising concerns about ongoing community transmission.
“As of June 12, 2026, we have recorded a cumulative total of 53 suspected cases, 10 Rapid Diagnostic Test-reactive cases, four laboratory-confirmed cases through culture, and sadly five deaths,” Ba’amlong stated.
He added that the fatalities involved four women and one man, pushing the case fatality rate to 9.43 per cent.
According to him, the widening spread of infections shows that the outbreak is evolving and requires urgent and sustained public health intervention. “The evolving situation indicates expansion of the outbreak, continued community transmission, and a level of severity that demands immediate attention. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones during this difficult period,” he said.
To strengthen containment efforts, the state government has activated the Incident Management System (IMS), an emergency coordination structure designed to improve outbreak response across multiple sectors.
As part of the arrangement, Dr. Maren Job has been appointed Incident Manager to coordinate all cholera response operations in the affected areas.
He said the role will cover surveillance, treatment coordination, laboratory support, risk communication, sanitation measures, resource mobilisation, and stakeholder engagement.
Authorities have also deployed additional Rapid Response Teams, expanded treatment centres, and begun emergency procurement of diagnostic kits, intravenous fluids, and essential drugs.
“We are scaling up treatment facilities, strengthening surveillance, and ensuring that patients receive prompt care. No effort is being spared in protecting the lives of our citizens,” the commissioner assured.
Health officials confirmed that active case search and contact tracing have been intensified, while community surveillance systems are being expanded to detect new infections early.
Free and subsidised treatment for cholera patients is also being maintained to remove financial barriers to care.
Beyond treatment, government and health partners have launched public sensitisation campaigns to promote hygiene practices and encourage early reporting of symptoms.
Traditional leaders, religious figures, and community influencers have been engaged to help spread awareness and counter misinformation.
On sanitation, authorities are promoting safe water practices, including boiling and chlorination, alongside environmental clean-up exercises and improved household water storage methods.
Despite these interventions, Ba’amlong acknowledged challenges such as shortages of diagnostic kits, increasing demand for medical supplies, and difficulty accessing remote communities.
However, he expressed optimism that collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other partners would strengthen the response.
“We are mobilising emergency resources and working closely with our national and international partners to ensure that every gap identified in the response is addressed swiftly,” he said.