The Gombe State Government has reported 74 recoveries from a cholera outbreak in Billiri Local Government Area, with no new infections recorded for seven days as of Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after two people died from the disease on October 4.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adamu-Danladi Bojude, announced the figures during a briefing in Gombe, naming Kedo village in Todi Ward as the affected community.
He said all 74 patients had been discharged following treatment, leaving no active admission at the time of the announcement.
According to Bojude, the state dispatched a rapid response team to investigate the outbreak alongside local health workers and provide free care at the Primary Health Centre in Sheila.
He said October 24 had been set as the target for declaring the outbreak over, provided no additional infection was detected by then.
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The government has activated an Incident Management System at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to oversee disease monitoring, case detection and containment operations.
Bojude said the state had sustained a cholera prevention programme since 2023, working with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) and development partners to protect communities at elevated risk. The programme covers more than 150 identified hotspots across Gombe’s 11 local government areas.
He cautioned that the risk was not limited to those locations, making prompt reporting and continued monitoring necessary throughout the state.
Gombe has faced similar challenges in the past. By September 20, 2022, the state had recorded 236 cholera cases and 10 deaths across five local government areas. The response at the time included an incident management system and 13 treatment units.
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and is commonly contracted through contaminated food or water. Severe infections can lead to dangerous dehydration and death if treatment is delayed.
Bojude urged residents to observe safe food-handling practices, use clean water, maintain proper hygiene and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop. He reiterated that treatment for suspected cases would be provided free of charge.