Cholera Crisis Escalates in Nigeria: 65 Confirmed Cases and 30 Deaths Amidst Rainy Season Surge
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a stark warning as the country grapples with a significant cholera outbreak. With 65 confirmed cases and 30 fatalities reported from January 1 to June 11, the situation is particularly dire in Lagos State, where an outbreak has led to approximately 60 hospital admissions and five deaths within 48 hours.
The NCDC’s public health advisory highlights the increasing trend of cholera cases across Nigeria, exacerbated by the rainy season. A total of 1,141 suspected cases have been recorded, with Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos being the most affected states.
Cholera, a highly contagious disease transmitted through contaminated food and water, presents symptoms such as acute watery diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, and fever. The NCDC emphasizes that while severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration, early detection and treatment with oral rehydration solution (ORS) and antibiotics can lead to successful recovery.
The NCDC is actively collaborating with various partners to provide support to affected states, including risk communication, active case search, laboratory diagnosis, case management, provision of response commodities, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions, and dissemination of cholera awareness jingles.
As the rainy season continues to intensify, the NCDC urges Nigerians to adopt precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the disease. This includes ensuring access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation and waste disposal, and maintaining good hygiene practices.
