Nigeria reports over 65,000 suspected cholera cases

Nigeria has recorded more than 65,000 suspected cases of cholera since the beginning of the year. The outbreak has spread across 35 states and approximately 195 local government areas.

Jide Idris, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), noted that while weekly case numbers and fatality rates have decreased significantly since the peak earlier this year, the outbreak is not over. He stated, “I want to be very clear that the outbreak has not ended.”

In response to the crisis, which prompted a national emergency declaration on June 26, 2024, authorities have strengthened surveillance and laboratory capacities. Mitigation efforts include administering oral cholera vaccines in high-risk areas, chlorinating water sources, and conducting hygiene awareness campaigns. The disease is caused by Vibrio bacteria and is transmitted through contaminated food and water.