A disease suspected to be cholera has emerged in several communities in Yola North, Adamawa State, presenting symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

According to a post on X by the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, on Tuesday, September 17, the disease is suspected to have been caused by dirty water due to the recent flooding.

Umar wrote: “Our Yola Operations Office is responding to and monitoring developments with respect to a disease outbreak in some communities of Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, suspected to be cholera, presenting vomiting and diarrhoea as symptoms.

“Our preliminary assessment indicated that the outbreak could have been a result of the contamination of household water by the flood disaster that impacted the local government recently. The communities affected are Alkalawa, Doubeli, Rumde, and Gwadabawa.

“While we await confirmation and further directives from NCDC and other health authorities, the isolation centre, providing emergency medical service, has been set up. So far, over 100 people are under close observation, and 7 deaths have been recorded.

“In collaboration with the state government, we have embarked on a massive sensitization campaign across the affected and neighbouring communities and begun the distribution of water-purifying chemicals for domestic use.

“While we urge the community to remain vigilant and report any suspected case to the nearest health centre, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and coordinate with relevant stakeholders for prompt intervention.”