The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported that cholera cases in Nigeria have gone up by 128 percent.
According to the NCDC, Lagos State has the most cases, with Lagos Island being the hardest-hit area.
On their official website, the NCDC said there were 7,056 suspected cholera cases as of September 1. This is a lot more compared to 3,096 cases reported at the same time in 2023.
In the 35th week of tracking the disease, the number of deaths also went up by 106 percent, with 204 people dying in 2024.
On June 24, the country declared a state of emergency because the death rate from cholera was 3.5 percent. This is much higher than the expected rate of one percent.
Cholera is a severe diarrhea illness caused by a germ called Vibrio cholera. It remains a big health problem, especially in areas without good toilets and clean water. Other badly affected states include Bayelsa, Katsina, and Zamfara.
The NCDC said it is working hard to test quickly and check stool samples to control the outbreak. They are also keeping a close watch and asking the public to be more aware and help stop the spread.
The death rate from cholera has gotten a bit better, going down to 2.9 percent from 3.2 percent in 2023. But young children under five years old are still the most affected group.
