The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says no fewer than 149 persons from 31 states have died as a result of cholera in 2022.

The NCDC made the disclosure via its monthly epidemiological report for weeks 31-35 released on Tuesday.

According to the NCDC, out of a total of 5451 suspected cases, children within the age range of five were most affected, while 13 states accounted for over 92 per cent of the cumulative cases with 12 local government areas from six states presenting over 100 cases each.

The agency stated: “As of 4th September 2022, a total of 5451 suspected cases including 149 deaths (CFR 2.7%) have been reported from 31 states in 2022.

“Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age group – 5 years is the most affected age group for male and female. Of all suspected cases, 47 percent are males and 53 percent are females.

“Thirteen states – Yobe (918 cases), Borno (679 cases), Taraba (676 cases), Cross River (650), Katsina (378 cases), kano (333 cases), Jigawa (317 cases), Ondo (283 cases), Zamfara (178 cases) Adamawa (161 cases), Gombe (159 cases), Bayelsa (145 cases) and Bauchi (122 cases), account for 92 percent of all cumulative cases.

READ ALSO: CBN increases interest rate to 15.5% to tackle inflation

“Twelve LGAs across six states Cross River (3), Taraba (3), Yobe (3), Borno (1), kano (1), and Zamfara (1), reported more than 100 cases each this year.”

While noting a 58 percent increase in the number of new suspected cases in August with 1677 cases compared with July when 705 cases were recorded, the NCDC stated that from August 1 to September 4, 2022, representing weeks 31 to 35, 11 states reported 1677 suspected cases of cholera.

“In the reporting month, 11 states reported 1677 suspected cases – Yobe (853), Borno (333), Jigawa (247), Gombe (133), Borno (160), Ekiti (1), Gombe (3), Jigawa (4), Kaduna (14), Kano (171), Katsina (115), Kebbi (1), Plateau (11), Sokoto (12), Yobe (4) and Zamfara (11)

“In the reporting week, Yobe (285), Jigawa (69), Gombe (69), Borno (47), and Adamawa (9) reported 478 suspected cases. Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, and Gombe states account for 98 percent of 478 suspected cases reported in week 35.

“During the reporting week, only 55 Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) was conducted. The RDT conducted was from Yobe 12 (92 per cent), Borno 10 (90 per cent), Jigawa 16 (44), Adamawa 4 (75 per cent), and Gombe 13(69 per cent) positive.

“6 stool culture test was conducted from Yobe 1 (100 per cent), and Jigawa 5 (100 per cent) positive. Of the cases reported, there were 6 deaths with a weekly case fatality ratio (CFR) of 1.3%. No new state reported cases in week 30,” the NCDC added.

According to the NCDC, some of the challenges fuelling the outbreak of cholera were difficulty in accessing some communities due to security concerns, open defecation in affected communities, lack of potable drinking water in some rural areas, and urban slums.

Others were poor hygiene practice in most cholera-affected communities, inadequate health facility infrastructure and cholera commodities for management of patients (Ringer’s lactate and ORS), inadequately trained personnel in states for case management as well as poor and inconsistent reporting from states.

The Star