Seven people have been confirmed dead, and over a dozen others have been hospitalized following a suspected cholera outbreak in Kanye Village, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The outbreak is believed to have been caused by contaminated water from an open well, the community’s sole source of drinking water.
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The well was polluted after heavy rains caused a nearby pond to overflow, spilling into the well.
Villagers began noticing that those who consumed the water fell ill, and the first deaths were recorded shortly afterward.
The Chief Sanitation Officer in the area, Hafiz Ali Baba, confirmed the outbreak and stated that authorities had warned residents against using the well.
“When we arrived at the village, already four people had died and were buried, while many others had fallen sick. We ordered that all the sick persons at home be conveyed to the hospital for medical attention,” he said.
Cholera outbreaks have become a recurring health issue in Kano, especially after periods of flooding. The state’s Ministry of Health attributed the outbreaks to heavy downpours that flood and contaminate water sources but assured that the wells in Kanye Village have been disinfected.
As the village mourns the dead, residents are calling for urgent government intervention to improve access to clean water.
