The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a total of 63 deaths from the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 2,102 suspected cases across 33 states and 122 local government areas, resulting in a case fatality rate of 3.0%.
Dr. Jide Idris, the Director General of NCDC, provided this update on Tuesday in Abuja during a press conference to discuss the cholera epidemiological situation and the ongoing prevention and response efforts at both national and subnational levels.
“As of June 30, 2024, a total of 2,102 suspected cases and 63 deaths have been recorded across 33 states and 122 local government areas, with a case fatality rate of 3.0% since the beginning of the year,” Dr. Idris said. He highlighted that seven of the top ten states contributing approximately 90% of the cases are in the southern region. These states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta.
To manage the outbreak, NCDC activated an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) last week to coordinate the cholera response efforts across the country. Dr. Idris explained that the National Cholera Multisectoral Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) consists of subject matter experts who provide strategic coordination, meet daily, and offer periodic situation reports for stakeholders. This ensures effective mobilization, harmonization, and distribution of resources to support the affected states through various thematic response areas, including coordination, surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, water sanitation and hygiene, vaccination, logistics, and research.
The EOC’s activation followed the assessment of cholera readiness and preparedness capacity in 22 hotspot and high-burden states, with identified gaps shared to guide preparedness activities before the outbreak. The NCDC has also provided relevant guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and advisories to states, prepositioned and distributed medical supplies for case management, infection prevention, control, and laboratory diagnosis to all 36 plus one states.
Addressing the issue of open defecation, Dr. Idris pointed out that only 123 (16%) out of 774 local government areas in Nigeria are open defecation free, with Jigawa being the only open defecation-free state in the country. Over 48 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, with inadequate and poorly maintained toilet facilities, even in many government establishments.
He further highlighted the dire state of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Nigeria, with only 11% of schools, 6% of health facilities, and 4% of motor parks and markets having access to basic services.
The NCDC continues to intensify public awareness and community engagement activities, strengthen surveillance and diagnostic capacity, enhance treatment of affected persons, and ensure rapid communication, data analysis, and efficient resource deployment to combat the cholera outbreak.
