ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, announced on Tuesday that it has recorded 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of July 15, 2024.
The outbreak has spread to 187 local government areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 percent since the beginning of the year.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, the Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, provided an update on the situation. “As of July 15, 2024, we have recorded 3,623 suspected cases and, unfortunately, 103 deaths across 34 states plus the Federal Capital Territory and 187 Local Government Areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 percent since the beginning of the year. The predominant age affected is five years old, while males account for 52 percent of cases and females account for the rest.”
Dr Idris noted a slight improvement in the recent numbers. “There was a 5.6 percent decline in the number of cases in this reporting week (8th -14th July) as compared to the preceding week. We also recorded a drop in the case fatality rate from 2.9 percent to 2.8 percent.”
Despite these improvements, Dr. Idris cautioned that the situation remains serious.
“The trend analysis from previous outbreaks shows the peak of the outbreak usually coincides with the peak of the rainy season, which is still some weeks ahead. Also, some of the northern traditional hotspot states have been reporting fewer cases, which may be connected with the delayed onset of the rainy season in this part of the country.”
The NCDC also highlighted challenges in data reporting and resource allocation.
“Although almost all the states in Nigeria have reported cases of cholera, there appears to be an underreporting of the situation as required data from the states are not coming in real-time as expected, given the trend in previous years. This is largely due to inadequate resources to support surveillance and disease detection activities at the subnational level,” Dr. Idris explained.
Dr. Idris also pointed out that political factors could influence the reporting of cholera cases. “Additionally, this may likely be further complicated by the effect of a political undertone for reporting cholera, which some see as a stigma or disease proxy indicator for the inability of the affected communities/persons to have access to potable water and other basic amenities of life.”
The cholera outbreak comes amid an increase in other epidemic-prone diseases, such as yellow fever, Lassa fever, and meningitis.
Dr. Idris emphasised that the Federal Government, through the NCDC, had been actively responding to the cholera outbreak.
“The Federal Government, through the NCDC, is committed to mitigating the impact of this outbreak on the health and well-being of our country.”
As the rainy season approaches its peak, the NCDC urges continued vigilance and improved reporting to combat the cholera outbreak effectively.
