The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,598 suspected cases of cholera across 107 local government areas.
The cholera outbreak is characterised by a case fatality rate of 3.5 per cent, significantly higher than the national expected average of one per cent, underscoring severity of the situation.
Director-general of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while providing an update on the cholera epidemiological situation in Nigeria and ongoing prevention and response efforts at the national and subnational levels.
He expressed government ‘s deep concern about the rapid spread and higher-than-expected mortality rate, indicating a more lethal outbreak.”
He emphasised that the fatalities represented significant personal losses, including family members, spouses, parents and healthcare workers.
He added that: “This situation can be compounded as the rainy season intensifies.”
Idris disclosed that Lagos State accounted for the highest number of deaths with 29, followed by Rivers with eight, Abia and Delta with four each, Katsina with three, Bayelsa with two and Kano, Nasarawa and Cross River with one each.
He said the alarming trend highlighted the urgent need for coordinated response to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
“Sixteen states accounted for 90 per cent of the confirmed cases, with Lagos being the epicentre of the outbreak.”
He added that the outbreak also affected Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers, Katsina, Delta, Imo, Nasarawa, Ondo, Kano, Niger, Osun, Sokoto, and Kwara.
