Nigeria has recorded 53 deaths and 1,528 suspected cases of cholera in 107 local government areas across 31 states as of Monday. This represents a case fatality rate of 3.5% since the beginning of 2024, according to the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Idris announced the activation of the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate the response to the outbreak. He noted that experts had recently conducted a risk assessment, which placed Nigeria at high risk of increased cholera transmission and impact.
The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, also issued a statement advising Nigerians to avoid locally made drinks like kunu, zobo, and fura to prevent the spread of cholera. “Avoid locally prepared drinks like kunu, zobo, fura da nono, koko, and fruit juice among others except it is certain that the preparation was done hygienically and safely,” Salako said. He also emphasized the importance of regular handwashing with soap under running water.
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In Lagos State, the death toll from cholera has risen to 29, with 30 other patients hospitalized. The state’s Health Commissioner, Akin Abayomi, reported 579 suspected cases, with 43 confirmed through laboratory analysis. He attributed the high death rate to patients presenting very late to hospitals. “Most of these deaths were caused by patients presenting very late at a stage where we could not resuscitate them because they had severe rehydration and many patients were brought in dead,” Abayomi said.
The Lagos State authorities are still investigating the specific source of the sudden spike in cases. “So far, we have not been able to identify a source, but investigations are continuing,” Abayomi said. He mentioned that cases of severe gastroenteritis have been reported in communities around Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, and Kosofe Local Government Areas.
In Ogun State, the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, disclosed that the state has recorded one death and 25 suspected cholera cases across seven local government areas: Adoodo/Ota, Remo North, Odeda, Sagamu, Ijebu North, Ewekoro, and Obafemi Owode.
To combat the outbreak, the NCDC has set up the EOC to coordinate and direct the country’s response. “An Incident Manager has been appointed to oversee the day-to-day activities of the EOC, which will focus on surveillance, case management, oral cholera vaccine distribution, coordination, infection prevention and control, logistics, support, and research,” Idris said.
Before the EOC activation, NCDC had prepositioned medical supplies, provided onsite support to affected states, conducted training for laboratory scientists and community mobilisers, and distributed public awareness materials. The agency also provided offsite and onsite support to states like Lagos and Ogun, following up for daily reporting and progress with response activities.