Nigeria has recorded 65 confirmed cases of cholera and 30 deaths between January 1 and June 11 in 96 local governments in 30 states, according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC revealed this in a public health advisory released on Thursday to alert the public about the rising trend of cholera cases across the country as the rainy season intensifies.
This follows a reported outbreak in Lagos State that led to around 60 hospital admissions and five deaths in 48 hours.
According to the NCDC, a total of 1,141 suspected cases were registered in 2024. Ten states contributed 90 percent of the total number.
The states are Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos.
About cholera, treatment
Cholera is a highly contagious disease transmitted by food and water. It spreads by direct transmission through eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and by indirect transmission due to poor sanitary conditions and lack of handwashing.
Symptoms of cholera include acute, painless, sudden-onset watery diarrhea with or without vomiting. It may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting, and fever.
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According to the NCDC, severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration; However, about 80 percent of people may show only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
The NCDC noted that the disease is easily treatable if detected early and that most infected people can be successfully treated by immediate administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS), to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, and appropriate antibiotics. .
Prevention
The NCDC further noted that cholera can be prevented by ensuring access to safe drinking water; proper sanitation and waste disposal; and proper hygiene, including hand washing.
He noted that raw fruits and vegetables, street vendor foods, and raw or undercooked seafood should be avoided.
To reduce the risk of cholera, the NCDC advised the public to “ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean, covered container before drinking it, and practice good personal hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap and water.” clean current.
“Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and clean water are not available. Make sure food is thoroughly cooked before eating. “Only eat raw foods, such as fruits and vegetables, after washing them thoroughly with drinking water.”
He also discouraged open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of garbage. He urged residents to ensure proper disposal of waste and frequent cleaning of sewage.
“If you or someone you know experiences sudden watery diarrhea, do not self-medicate and visit a health care facility immediately,” he said.
The NCDC also advised healthcare workers to always practice standard safety precautions, including wearing gloves when handling patients or providing care to a sick patient or family member.
Government intervention
The NCDC, which leads a multi-sectoral national technical working group on cholera, said it has been providing support to affected states.
The NCDC noted that “this support includes risk communication, active case finding, laboratory diagnosis, case management, provision of critical response commodities, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions and outreach. of cholera awareness jingles in both English and local languages.”
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The technical working group is made up of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) and other partners.