Five feared dead, 53 infected as cholera hits Plateau

Cholera has killed five persons and infected 53 other residents in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, made this disclosure on Monday in Jos, the state capital, during a press briefing.

Ba’amlong described the situation as serious but manageable with sustained government intervention and community cooperation.

The commissioner stated that the outbreak, which was initially reported with only eight suspected cases, has spread to the Pushit, Mangu 1, and Mangu 2 wards, raising concerns over continued transmission within affected communities.

“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 said.

The state government said that the incident has raised concerns over continued transmission within affected communities.

DAILY POST reports that Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.

The disease spreads rapidly in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water, and it can cause severe, life-threatening dehydration within hours if left untreated.