No fewer than 103 persons have died as a result of the current cholera outbreak, which has so far recorded 3,623 suspected cases in 187 Local Government Areas in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this while updating newsmen on the cholera outbreak in Abuja on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

Idris, who disclosed that some northern states were reporting fewer cases which may be connected with the delayed onset of the rainy season in those parts of the country, raised concerns over underreporting of the situation due to inadequate resources to support surveillance and disease detection activities at the subnational level.

He said: As of July 15, 2024, we have recorded 3,623 suspected cases and, unfortunately, 103 deaths across 34 states plus the FCT and 187 LGAs, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 per cent since the beginning of the year. The predominant age affected is five years old while males account for 52 per cent of cases and females account for the rest.

“Furthermore, there was a 5.6 per cent 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 per cent to 2.8 per cent. Definitely, there is a decline in case fatality rate from week 24 when the spike started to the present week.”

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Idris, however, stated that the NCDC has been implementing the national incident action plan for the response and intensifying efforts targeted at supporting states to conduct active case search, optimise laboratory capacity, with prepositioning of cholera management supplies and capacity building in anticipation of possible surge ahead.

The NCDC boss further revealed that National Rapid Response Teams (NRRT) have been deployed to the top six states contributing about 83 per cent of cases.

Idris noted: “The states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Ebonyi, Katsina, and Zamfara States and plans are in place to deploy to more states, to strengthen surveillance system, improve case management, infection prevention and control and community engagement towards building community resilience.

“We will continue to monitor the trends and will escalate the required support as the situation demands.”

He, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to keep cholera away by ensuring water was boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking, proper hand hygiene practice, consumption of well-cooked food, proper washing of raw food, including fruits and vegetables, protecting food and drinks from contamination by flies, and unsanitary handling.

The Star