Two prisoners die as cholera outbreak hits Kano prison, authorities say it’s now contained

Two prisoners have been confirmed dead following an outbreak of cholera at a correctional facility in Kano State.

 The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Kano State Command, said on Saturday, September 26, that the cholera outbreak occurred at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre.

It added that it  was confirmed through laboratory investigation on September 23 by the medical team at the facility and state public health authorities.

The Public Relations Officer of the service, Jane Osuji, who disclosed the development in a statement on Saturday, September 26, in Abuja, said one of the victims died at the facility and the other at the state infectious diseases hospital.

She also said that the disease was first detected on September 17 when an inmate observed to be vomiting and with diarrhoea was immediately admitted and treated at the centre’s medical facility.

“By the next morning, the medical team activated emergency medical protocols while intensifying medical intervention and monitoring,” she stated.

Osuji said the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, was immediately briefed about the situation and he directed that all necessary measures be sustained to protect the lives, health and welfare of inmates and personnel.

Nwakuche extended his condolences over the loss of lives and directed additional preventive measures in collaboration with the Kano state government.

He said the service had also strengthened disease surveillance, early detection and prompt medical response across custodial facilities in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.

The controller-general also directed a team of senior medical personnel from the service national headquarters to proceed to the facility for sustained monitoring.

He said healthcare services remained available across custodial facilities through qualified medical personnel.