NCDC Alerts Public on Rising Cholera Cases Across Nigeria

By: Modupe Adeniyi. Freelance Health Reporter.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2024. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued an alert to the public regarding the rising number of cholera cases across the country as the rainy season intensifies. A recent outbreak has been reported in Lagos State, contributing to the growing concern.

From January 1st to June 11th, 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera, resulting in 30 deaths, have been reported from 96 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 30 states. The states bearing the highest burden of cholera include Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos.

The NCDC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Environment and other partners, has been providing support to the affected states through the multi-sectoral National Cholera Technical Working Group. As the NCDC explains, this support includes a range of interventions: Risk communication, active case search, laboratory diagnosis, case management, provision of response commodities, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions and dissemination of Cholera awareness jingles in both English and local languages.”

Symptoms of cholera include sudden watery diarrhoea with or without vomiting, nausea and fever. Even though most infected people show little or mild symptoms, severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration.

The NCDC further emphasized that "the disease is easily treatable if detected early as most infected people can be treated successfully through prompt administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS) and appropriate antibiotics.

To reduce the risk of cholera, the NCDC advises the public to ensure that water is boiled and stored in clean, covered containers before drinking, practice good personal hand hygiene, ensure that food is well-cooked before consumption, avoid open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping and seek immediate medical attention if experiencing sudden watery diarrhoea.

Healthcare workers are also advised to practice standard safety precautions and intensify surveillance efforts to promptly report suspected cholera cases. The NCDC also calls upon state governments to prioritize actions that ensure access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation and proper hygiene practices in communities.

"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," the organization stated, underlining the importance of collaborative efforts in combating the spread of cholera in Nigeria.

Source: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Related: Cholera in the African setting

Published: June 14, 2024

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