New Telegraph

Cholera Deaths Hit 378 As Cases Surge To 14,237

…as NCDC attributes recent surge to flooding, heavy rains

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the number of cholera cases in Nigeria has surged to 14,237, with 378 deaths recorded since January 2024.

The cholera cases for the year 2024 have superseded 2023 as the current figures mark a nearly 300% increase compared to the over 3,500 cases reported during the same period last year.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris during a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, disclosed that the cholera outbreak has affected 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), spanning 339 local government areas. He added that the current case fatality ratio (CFR) stands at approximately 2.7%.

According to him, the high numbers especially the ones being recorded in the second wave of the outbreak, could be attributed to the heavy rain falls and floodings being witnessed in some Northern states including as Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano, which the agency had earlier warned could increase the number or cases.

Dr. Jide expressed concerns that the burden of the outbreak disproportionately affects the most vulnerable especially children under the age of five.

He said: “The number of suspected cholera cases and deaths in 2024 has more than doubled 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 at both national and subnational levels, with improved commitment towards tackling challenges relating to inadequate access to clean water, open defecation, poor environmental sanitation, and food and personal hygiene.

“Earlier in the year, 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.”

While disclosing that rapid response teams including experts from One Health line ministries have been deployed to the affected northern states, the NCDC boss urged Nigerians to practise good personal, food, and environmental hygiene, with an emphasis on regular hand washing with soap and water under running water. He also advised people to seek medical care immediately if cholera symptoms—such as severe diarrhoea and vomiting—occur.

On mpox, the NCDC reported a steady rise in the number of cases in recent weeks, which it attributed to enhanced surveillance and improved case detection across the country.

“As of 13th October, a total of 102 confirmed cases have been recorded across 26 states and the FCT, from 1,339 suspected cases, with no deaths.

“Furthermore, Nigeria has recorded 1,018 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 172 deaths since the beginning of the year, with the majority of cases reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states.

“While the peak of the Lassa fever outbreak was declared over in April, sporadic cases continue to be reported, with 37 new cases and four deaths recorded in the past month alone. According to the NCDC boss, this reaffirms that Lassa fever remains a persistent health threat, particularly as the country approaches the dry season when cases typically surge.

“To mitigate this risk, we are strengthening our preparedness for the upcoming Lassa fever season. We have reviewed our response to the previous outbreak, identifying lessons learned to enhance future interventions.

“Findings have identified kidney failure as a major cause of death from Lassa fever. To address this, the training of healthcare workers at both state and local levels is ongoing to ensure rapid case detection, accurate reporting, and effective management. We have procured and installed 12 dialysis machines across our treatment centres.

“Additionally, we are stockpiling essential medical supplies such as personal protective equipment, medicines, and diagnostic tools in high-risk states to ensure a swift response should an outbreak occur,” the DG added.

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