Cholera claims 378 lives, 14,237 cases reported across 35 states – NCDC

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says as of October 13, 2024, a total of 378 lives have been claimed with 14,237 cases of cholera reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory  (FCT) spanning 339 local government areas.

The Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, who revealed this at a media briefing on Thursday, to update Nigerians on the ongoing response to infectious disease outbreaks and other events of public health importance in Nigeria and globally, however, said sadly, 378 lives have been lost to the disease, resulting in a case fatality ratio of about 2.7 percent.

Noting that that the burden of this outbreak disproportionately affects the most vulnerable, notably children under the age of five, Idris explained that this year has seen two significant waves of cholera, with the most recent surge, reported on September 29. He attributed the ugly development to the heavy rains and subsequent flooding.

“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 said.

The NCDC boss said the goal of the nation’s disease control and prevention agency remains to empower Nigerians with accurate information that fosters proactive decision-making in the face of public health challenges.

He said:”Over the past months, the NCDC has been deeply engaged in managing a wide range of infectious diseases, including cholera, yellow fever, diphteria, Mpox, and more recently, monitoring the global Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda.

“In alignment with our national seasonal hazard prediction, we are also intensifying our preparedness for the upcoming Lassa fever and Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) seasons, both of which remain significant threats to public health in Nigeria,”he added.

“Cholera, as we know, remains a serious public health issue, particularly in areas with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems. The NCDC, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has been working tirelessly to mitigate the spread of this and save lives.

“Earlier in the year, the cholera cases were concentrated in southern states as the rains began there, but we have seen a shift, with northern states now accounting for a significant portion of cases. 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 subnational levels with improved commitment towards addressing challenges relating to inadequate access to clean water, open defaecation, poor environmental sanitation, food and personal hygiene.

“In response, the NCDC has deployed rapid response teams, including experts from our one health line ministries, to the affected northern states.

“These teams have been instrumental in coordinating with and supporting the local response by guiding interventions, and providing critical supplies, including medicines, water purification tablets, infection prevention and control (IPC) materials, and diagnostic tools.”

He explained that high-level advocacy visits, including to Borno State, were conducted to engage with state’s health leadership, encourage response teams, and offer our support to communities displaced by floods.

While explaining that the efforts of the centre have been bolstered by collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency,NPHCDA, he said:” Together, we have successfully supported our sister agency, the NPCHDA, to carry out reactive cholera vaccinations in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, a move that has proven crucial in reduction in cases being reported. “

Idris urged all Nigerians to practice good personal, food, and environmental hygiene, with emphasis on regular hand washing with soap and water ,under running water; and seek medical care immediately if cholera symptoms such as severe diarrhea and vomiting occur.

“Looking ahead, our priorities remain clear,we will continue to enhance surveillance, improve prompt treatment of affected persons, and strengthen Water Sanitation and Hygiene practices in affected communities,”he said.

According to him,”Cholera is a preventable disease, and with collective effort, we can control and eventually eliminate this threat.”