Outbreak of cholera in Nigeria

There is an increasing number of cholera cases in Nigeria, so much so that the Nigerian Disease Control Centre (CDC) said 11,000 cases were reported this year in the country, a 220% increase over 2023 in the same period. Deaths increased from 106 in 2023 to 359 now. Lagos has the highest number of cases, but Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Borno have also been hit significantly. The Borno Health Commissioner said he is facing a significant public health challenge following last month’s floods because they created ideal conditions for the spread of waterborne diseases. Cholera is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted through water contaminating sanitation systems and contaminated food. The Nigerian CDC and state authorities have issued a national emergency warning to prevent the further extension of the disease. The public health emergency centre in Borno has been converted into a control centre for disease surveillance, to communicate the risks involved and to ensure essential health services, prevention, and water purification. The Nigerian Ministry of Health is sending hundreds of thousands of cholera vaccine doses to affected areas.