Cholera kills 79 In Four Months Say NCDC

Total number of 79 deaths have been recorded from Cholera, while 1,336 people are suspected to have been infected with the viral disease so far in 2023, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

The NCDC disclosed this in its latest cholera situation epidemiological .

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 report showed that the 12 affected 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.

punch/Oyenike Oyeniyi