The Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported an increase in suspected cholera cases, with the number now standing at 10,837.
Last week, 198 new suspected cases were reported in Adamawa, Ebonyi, Borno, Kano and Jigawa states, the agency revealed in its latest epistemological report on cholera released on Thursday.
In addition, 15 new cases of death related to the disease were recorded, with a fatality rate of 7.6 percent.
Adamawa recorded the highest number of cases with 131 new cases, followed by Ebonyi with 30 cases. Borno State reported 29 cases, Kano reported seven, while Jigawa recorded the lowest figure with only one suspected case.
This brings the total cases for the week to 198 suspected cases and the new total cases since January 2024 to 10,837.
Number lower than declared
However, PREMIUM TIMES' conclusions showed that the cumulative number of suspected cases and deaths is lower than what was declared in the report.
The NCDC puts the cumulative cholera cases at 10,837, after recording 198 new cases in five states between September 23 and 29. It also places the new total of death cases at 359 cases, after registering 15 new suspected cases.
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However, in its previous epistemological report on cholera issued for week 38, which reported cases recorded between September 16 and 22, the agency estimated that cumulative suspected cases were 9,964 and cumulative deaths were 317.
A sum of 9964 suspected cases accumulated with the 198 new reported cases should provide a total of 10,162 suspected cases.
By adding 317, which are the previously published cumulative death cases, with the new 15 deaths, the total deaths would be 332, instead of 359 cases as the agency reported.
Weekly cholera report
When Newslodgecontacted NCDC spokesperson Natty Onyekwelu, she said she was not aware of the stated error and would review the report.
Every week, the NCDC publishes a weekly epistemological report on cholera as well as other epidemic diseases in the country.
The weekly cholera epidemiological report provides key updates on the number of suspected cases, deaths and response efforts across the country. It describes trends in cholera outbreaks, affected regions, demographics, and measures being taken to slow the spread.
The NCDC has published 39 weekly epidemiological reports for each of the weeks since the beginning of the year. The most recent report is from week 39.
However, the agency, in its latest update, reported that a total of 1,938 cases had been reported in September alone. In addition, 87 deaths were recorded with a fatality rate of 4.5 percent.
He said that “254 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) were performed with 175 positive results, 149 stool culture tests were performed and 103 positive results.”
Open defecation and poor hygiene contribute to the spread
According to the NCDC, in communities affected by the outbreak of the infectious disease, open defecation is a common practice.
The agency, in its report, said the practice continues to pose a challenge to the country's efforts to curb the spread of cholera.
The report also highlighted poor access to clean water, sanitation and WASH supplies.
It said: “Lack of drinking water in some rural areas and urban slums; scarcity of water that leads to dependence on people who sell water in drums. “Inadequate WASH infrastructure and supplies, including wastewater management facilities.”
The NCDC also indicated that the shortage of qualified personnel in the states impedes efforts to ensure effective case management.
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As part of the challenges affecting efforts to curb the spread, the agency also highlighted the absence of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials at the community level and poor access to consumables and supplies for case management.
“There are no IEC materials at the community level, inadequate consumables and supplies for case management, inadequate logistics for active case finding, therefore insufficient active case finding in communities,” the report reads in part.