The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, says 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. The Director-General of the agency, Dr Jide Idris, made this known on Thursday while presenting an update on the ongoing response to infectious disease outbreaks and other events of public health importance in Nigeria and globally.
Idris said that 14,237 cases of cholera have been reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), spanning 339 local government areas. According to him, 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), and 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.”
