Nigeria is grappling with a severe cholera outbreak, with 7,663 suspected cases and 216 fatalities reported since the beginning of 2024.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed these figures in its week 36 cholera epidemiological report released on Wednesday in Abuja.
The report highlights a troubling trend, showing a case fatality rate of 2.8 percent. This means that of the 7,663 suspected cases, 216 have resulted in death.
“In week 36 alone, we recorded 141 suspected cases, one death, and these cases were spread across 19 local government areas (LGAs) in Katsina, Lagos, Kano, Jigawa, and Adamawa states,” said the NCDC in its report.
The cholera outbreak has affected a broad swath of Nigeria, with 280 LGAs in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reporting at least one suspected case.
The report also reveals that 10 states account for 89 percent of the total suspected cases.
Lagos State is the hardest hit, accounting for 58 percent of all reported cases. Bayelsa follows with 7 percent, Katsina with 6 percent, and Jigawa with 5 percent.
Other states with significant numbers of cases include Zamfara, Ebonyi, Rivers, Abia, Ogun, and Imo.
The NCDC report also indicates that 15 LGAs are particularly affected, with Lagos Island LGA in Lagos State being the most impacted, making up 8 percent of all reported cases.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate sanitation and unsafe drinking water.
The current cholera outbreak underscores the critical need for improved sanitation and access to clean water.
Efforts to control the spread of cholera include increasing public awareness, improving water and sanitation infrastructure, and providing medical treatment to affected individuals.
The NCDC is working closely with state and local health authorities to manage the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.
Public health officials are emphasising the importance of hygiene and sanitation to curb the spread of cholera.
