Cholera: 31,425 suspected cases, 816 deaths recorded in eight months – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it has recorded a total of 31,425 suspected and 311 confirmed cases of cholera infection from 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between January and August 1 this year.

It also said that there have been 816 fatalities from the disease during the period.

The affected states, according to the agency are Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Cross River, Niger, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, Enugu, Adamawa, Katsina, Borno and the FCT.

Of the reported cases since the beginning of the year, 27 per cent are between the ages of five and 14 years. Fifty-one per cent are males and 49 per cent are females.

The agency also noted that in its periodic report released on Monday that there has been a decrease in the number of new cases in the last two weeks, with Bauchi with 773 cases, Niger (183), Katsina (120), and FCT (64) accounting for 50.9 per cent of 1,941 cases reported in the last two weeks.

The NCDC noted that the outbreak of the epidemic across the states has been exacerbated by poor access to clean water, open defecation, poor sanitation, and poor hygiene.

“Following an increase in the number of cholera cases, the National Cholera Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was activated on the 22nd of June 2021.

“The EOC, which is hosted at NCDC, includes representation from the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), World Health  Organization (WHO) and partners.

“The National Cholera EOC has led the deployment of Rapid Response Teams to support the most affected states –Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Bauchi and Plateau States,” it said.

The NCDC added that its partners have provided states with commodities for case management and laboratory diagnosis, materials for risk communications, response guidelines among other support.

“A reactive oral cholera vaccine (OCV) campaign led by NPHCDA was conducted in Bauchi LGA, Bauchi State from 24th to 28th July 2021,” it added.

But it warned that none of these medical interventions will solve the underlying issues leading to cholera outbreaks, noting that cholera being a waterborne disease, the risk of transmission is higher when there is poor sanitation and disruption of clean water supply.

It also warned that the wrong disposal of refuse and practices such as open defecation endanger the safety of water used for drinking and personal  use.

“These lead to the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera. Without proper water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), Nigeria remains at risk of cholera cases and deaths,” it noted.

The long-term solution for cholera control, it stressed, lies in access to safe drinking water, maintenance of proper sanitation and hygiene.

“We continue to advocate to state governments to prioritise action for solutions that ensure access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation and good hygiene practices in communities.”

It also enjoined Nigerians to keep their environments clean, only drink or use water that is boiled and stored safely, ensure food is cooked and stored in a clean and safe environment, avoid open defecation and wash their hands regularly with soap and running water.

“As the NCDC continues to work with partners to lead the health-sector response to cholera outbreaks, we call for an urgent improvement in access to clean water, proper sanitation and  hygiene,” it added.