1,336 suspected cases of cholera, including 79 death cases, have been reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control so far in 2023.
This was stated by the NCDC in its most recent epidemiological report on the cholera situation on Monday.
According to the report, suspected cases were reported by 12 states and 43 local government districts, with a case fatality rate of 5.9%.
Abia, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara are the 12 states that have reported instances in the nation.
The intestines become infected with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, which results in the acute diarrheal sickness known as cholera. When cholera bacteria are present in food or drink, people might become ill. Most of the time, the infection is minor or presents no symptoms, although it can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.
According to the World Health Organisation, at least 24 countries continue to report cholera cases. Regarding historical transmission patterns and seasonality, large parts of the world are currently in low or inter-epidemic transmission periods, therefore this number could increase in the months to come.
In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more often in areas with poor sanitation.
The report read in part, “Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age groups 15-24 and >45 years are the most affected age groups for males and females respectively. Of all suspected cases, 53 per cent are males and 47 per cent are females.
“Six states – Cross River (647 cases), Ebonyi (97 cases), Abia (72 cases), Niger (38 cases), and Zamfara (28 cases) account for 96 per cent of all cumulative cases.
“Fifteen LGAs across nine states Ebonyi (4), Cross River (3), Ondo (2), Bayelsa (1), Abia (1), Katsina (1), Sokoto (1) Niger (1) and Zamfara (1), reported more than 5 cases each this year.”
The NCDC said it would continue training on cholera surveillance, hotspot mapping, state-level preparedness and response plans.
