Across 33 states and 148 local government areas in Nigeria, the number of suspected cholera cases in Nigeria has risen to 2,809 as of July, 7th.
Additionally, the nation reported 82 deaths, translating to a 2.9% fatality rate since the year’s start.
This is in line with the cholera situation report for week 27 that was acquired on Monday from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
The organism Vibrio cholerae, which is found in tainted food and water, is what causes cholera, a highly dangerous foodborne illness.
The main contributing factors have been identified as the use of contaminated water and poor sanitation, which are made worse by the arrival of the rainy season. Affected water supplies and flooding frequently result in a rise in cholera cases.
The NCDC said, “As of July 7th, 2024, a total of 2,809 suspected cases, including 82 deaths (CFR 2.9 per cent), have been reported from 33 states. Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age groups 5 years are mostly affected, followed by the age groups 25 – 34 years in aggregate of both males and females. Of all suspected cases, 53% are males and 47 are females.
“Lagos (1,560 cases) accounts for 56 per cent of all suspected cases in the country of the 33 states that have reported cases of cholera. Lagos Island LGA (295 cases) in Lagos State accounts for 11 per cent of all suspected cases reported in the country.
“Of the suspected cases this year, 42.7% are from the following states: Bayelsa (476 cases), Ebonyi (110), Abia (109), Katsina (88 cases), Zamfara (64 cases), Delta (64 cases), Bauchi (54 cases), Cross River (43 cases), Rivers (37 cases), Imo (28), Ogun (21), Nasarawa (19 cases), Kano (18), Ondo (17 cases), Oyo (15), Niger (15), Osun (11 cases), and Akwa Ibom (10 cases).”
In contrast, the study indicated that there has been a 7% decline in suspected cases of cholera in the present year as compared to the reports as of week 27 in 2023. Similarly, the total number of deaths reported has dropped by 5% in 2024.
While this was going on, Lagos reported 52 deaths, followed by Rivers with 8, Abia with 4, Delta with 4, Katsina with 3, Bayelsa with 2, Kano with 2, Oyo with 2, Bauchi with 1, Cross River with 1, Ebonyi with 1, Nasarawa with 1, and Ogun with 1.
However, the NCDC bemoaned the difficulty in reaching some communities because of security concerns; most cholera-stricken groups had poor hygiene standards; some rural regions and urban slums lacked safe drinking water; and affected people openly defecated.
Additionally, it bemoaned the lack of cholera supplies and infrastructure in health facilities, the poor use of rapid diagnostic tests provided to facilities and surveillance officers, the lack of case management training for state employees, and the poor and inconsistent reporting from states.
