Cholera: 14,237 persons infected across Nigeria as death toll hits 378

The death toll from the cholera outbreak has risen to 378 while 14, 237 persons have been infected with the disease, since the beginning of the year, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention ( NCDC).

The director general of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, made the disclosure Thursday while presenting an update on the ongoing response to infectious disease outbreaks and other events of public health importance in Nigeria and globally .

He said the 14,237 cases of cholera have been reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), spanning 339 local government areas.

He said cholera remains a serious public health issue, particularly in areas with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems, adding that the NCDC, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has been working tirelessly to mitigate the spread of the disease and save lives.

Idris said this year has seen two significant waves of cholera, with the most recent surge, reported during the week of September 29 (Epi Week 39), attributed to the heavy rains and subsequent flooding.

He said, “This is a pattern we anticipated, having foreseen the risks through data and advisories provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET). The floods in the northern states such as Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano have exacerbated the spread of cholera, making these states the current epicenters of the outbreak.”

He explained that earlier in the year, the cholera cases were concentrated in southern states as the rains began there, but that a shift has been recorded with northern states now accounting for a significant portion of cases.

He added that the number of suspected cholera cases and deaths in 2024 has more than doubled, when compared to this time last year.

“These numbers reflect the severity of the outbreak and reinforce the need for continuous vigilance and action. It also underscores the developmental issues that should be addressed both at the national and sub-national levels with improved commitment towards addressing challenges relating to inadequate access to clean water, open defecation, poor environmental sanitation, food and personal hygiene,” he added.