Cholera epidemic on the increase as NCDC announces number of confirmed cases, deaths across Nigeria
Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that 10,837 suspected cholera cases and 359 deaths have been reported so far with Lagos, Jigawa, Kano, Oyo, and four other states are leading the nation in cholera-related deaths since the start of the year.
The deaths occurred across 21 states, with Lagos (134), Jigawa (52), Kano (46), Oyo (26), Ebonyi (16), Adamawa (16), Rivers (13), Katsina (12), and Bauchi (10) accounting for the highest casualties.
Cholera-related deaths this year have surged by 239% compared to last year, while suspected cases are up 220%, according to the NCDC’s latest situation report. In September alone, the country recorded 87 deaths and 1,938 suspected cases. Of 254 Rapid Diagnostic Tests conducted, 175 were positive.
States with the most reported cases include Lagos (4,667), Jigawa (870), Kano (809), and Borno (588), with cases reported in a total of 35 states. Cholera, a food and waterborne disease caused by ingesting the “vibrio cholerae” bacterium through contaminated food and water, spreads rapidly in areas with poor sanitation.
Dr. Dawal Kwande Solomon, a consultant family physician, explained that once the bacteria are ingested, they can quickly trigger the disease, which is marked by severe diarrhea and vomiting. The NCDC notes that cholera symptoms can appear within two hours to five days after infection.
The disease spreads more easily in areas lacking clean water and proper sanitation, with practices like open defecation and poor waste disposal contributing to contamination. The NCDC also reported that children under five are the most affected, followed by children aged 5-14, with males making up 52% of the cases and females 48%.
NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris warned in August of a likely increase in cholera cases and deaths, particularly due to the rainy season and flooding in parts of the country.
Leave a Reply