Posted on: Tue 18-04-2023

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has announced a total of 1,336 suspected cases of cholera and 79 deaths so far in 2023.

The NCDC disclosed this in its latest cholera situation epidemiological report on Monday.

The report revealed that 12 states across 43 local government areas reported the suspected cases, with a case fatality ratio of 5.9 per cent.

The 12 states are Abia, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto and Zamfara.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal illness caused by  Vibrio cholerae bacteria. People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.

In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more often in areas with poor sanitation.

According to the World Health Organisation, at least 24 countries continue to report cholera cases.

The NCDC report read in part, “Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age groups 15-24 and greater than 45 years are the most affected age groups for males and females. Of all suspected cases, 53 per cent are males and 47 per cent are females.”

The NCDC said it would continue training on cholera surveillance, hotspot mapping, state-level preparedness and response plans.

---

---