The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that the country recorded 53 deaths and 1,528 suspected cases of cholera in 31 states.
Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this on Monday, June 24, 2024 in Abuja, while briefing journalists on the cholera epidemiological situation in the country.
Jide stated that the outbreak had been recorded in 107 Local Government Areas with a case fatality rate of 3.5% since the beginning of 2024.
He expressed fears that the situation may be compounded as the rainy season intensifies. To this effect, he announced that the NCDC had activated a National Cholera Emergency Operation Centre to curb the outbreak:
“Cholera, a highly contagious food and waterborne disease, has in the recent past reared its devastating head in several states across our country. It is caused by the ingestion of the organism Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food.
“As of 24th June 2024, 1528 suspected cases and 53 deaths have been recorded across 31 States and 107 local government areas with a case fatality rate of 3.5% since the beginning of the year.
“These fatalities are not just statistics but a significant loss of a loved family member, a spouse, a parent, and often a seasoned healthcare worker and team member. This situation be compounded as the rainy season intensifies,” Idris said.
He expressed regret that the country was facing another public health emergency as it was just coming out of Lassa fever and Meningitis outbreaks:
“In response to the rapidly increasing cholera cases, a dynamic risk assessment was conducted by subject matter experts on the Cholera outbreak situation in Nigeria last week.”
“The subject matter experts were drawn from relevant Ministries (Health, Environment, Agriculture, Water Resources etc.), Departments, Agencies, stakeholders, and major partners.
“The outcome of the risk assessment placed the country at “High Risk” of increased risk of cholera transmission and impact. This demands our immediate and coordinated actions and therefore necessitated the activation of the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Nigeria today.
“The decision to activate the Cholera Emergency Operation Centre underscores the gravity of the situation and our unwavering commitment to protect the health and well-being of every Nigerian.
“The Emergency Operation Centre will serve as the nerve centre for the coordination of response across the country, it will also support affected states, facilitate rapid communication, data analysis, and decision-making processes, mobilize resources, expertise, and support from across the NCDC, our partners, and stakeholders at all levels of government.
“It will ensure efficient deployment of needed resources, strengthen surveillance and diagnostic capacity and capabilities, enhance case management, training and intensify public awareness and community engagement activities.
“To effectively do this, an Incident Manager has also been appointed, who will coordinate the day-to-day activities involving several pillars such as Surveillance (data collection, analysis and dissemination), Case Management, oral Cholera Vaccine Issues, Coordination, Infection Prevention & Control (IPC), Logistics Support, and Research.
“Prior to the activation of EOC, the NCDC, through the National Cholera Technical Working Group had carried out the following prevention and response efforts prepositioning and distribution of medical supplies for case management, infection prevention, and control, laboratory diagnosis, among others to all 36 plus one states”, the NCDC Boss said.
