By Our Correspondent
The Lagos State Government has identified an unregistered tiger nut drink as the primary cause of the recent cholera outbreak in the state.
The outbreak has impacted multiple local government areas, including Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, and Kosofe, with the highest number of cases reported in hospitals.
Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, informed Punch that an increase in cholera cases was particularly noted in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
A survey conducted by the government revealed that the affected individuals had all consumed the same tiger nut drink, which was not registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Efforts to trace the source of the drink include collecting samples and conducting contact tracing, similar to methods used during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these efforts are hindered by the drink’s lack of registration and an inaccessible phone number listed on the bottle.
Further testing of stool samples from affected individuals confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae subtype 01, the most infectious and aggressive strain of cholera.
Ogunyemi emphasized the importance of hygiene and urged residents to ensure that consumable items are registered with relevant government agencies.
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