According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), there have been 447 suspected cases of cholera reported in six states from weeks 5 to 9 of 2023.
The states include Cross River with 397 cases, Zamfara with 25 cases, Ebonyi with 11 cases, Abia with nine cases, Bayelsa with three cases and Kano with two cases.
In total, 12 states have reported cholera cases since the beginning of 2023, including Abia, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto and Zamfara.
As of March 5, 2023, a total of 922 suspected cases of cholera, including 32 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.5 per cent, have been reported in these states.
The NCDC’s epidemiological report indicates that Cross River state has been the most affected with 647 cases, accounting for 70 per cent of the total cholera cases reported across the country. The state also recorded 16 deaths, representing 50 per cent of all cholera deaths in the country. The age group above 45 years has been the most affected for both males and females.
Cholera is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an acute diarrheal illness caused by an infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholera bacteria. People can become ill when they swallow contaminated food or water. The infection is usually mild or without symptoms, but it can be severe and life-threatening, with about one in 10 people experiencing severe symptoms.
These symptoms include profuse watery diarrhoea, vomiting, thirst, leg cramps, and restlessness or irritability. The NCDC’s National multi-sectoral Cholera TWG continues to monitor the response across states, and people are advised to take preventive measures such as hand washing, use of clean water, and proper sanitation.
