The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a total of 1,141 suspected cases of cholera, with 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths across 96 local government areas (LGAs) in 30 states from January 1 to June 11, 2024.
Consequently, the centre has issued a public health advisory warning about the increasing trend of cholera cases as the rainy season intensifies.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the NCDC highlighted that 10 states—Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos—account for 90% of the cholera burden in the country.
The centre noted that the multi-sectoral National Cholera Technical Working Group (NCTWG), led by NCDC and comprising the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other partners, has been providing support to the affected states.
Support efforts include risk communication, active case search, laboratory diagnosis, case management, provision of response commodities, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions, and dissemination of cholera awareness messages in both English and local languages.
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The centre urged state governments to prioritise actions that ensure access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation, and proper hygiene practices in communities.
NCDC explained that cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, ingested through contaminated water and food. Water contamination usually results from the faeces of infected individuals, occurring during water collection, transportation, or storage at home. Food can also be contaminated by unclean hands during preparation or consumption.
At-risk populations include those with limited access to clean water, poor sanitation and hygiene, consumers of potentially contaminated food or fruits without proper washing and cooking, and healthcare workers providing direct patient care without standard precautions.
Symptoms of cholera include acute, profuse, painless watery diarrhoea (rice water stools), sudden onset vomiting, and may be accompanied by nausea and fever. Severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration from massive fluid loss.
However, NCDC stressed that most infected individuals (about 80%) may show mild symptoms or be asymptomatic.
NCDC cautioned that the best prevention against cholera includes ensuring access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation and waste disposal, and adopting appropriate hygiene practices, including regular handwashing. It advised avoiding raw fruits and vegetables, food from street vendors, and raw or undercooked seafood.
