No fewer than 91 deaths have been recorded from cholera from January to July 31, 2022, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The NCDC also said there are a total of 3,610 suspected cases of the infection.
The latest cholera situation report by the agency for week 30 revealed that 31 states across 190 local government areas are currently reporting suspected cases in 2022.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, a gramme-negative rod-shaped bacterium. It is a potentially life-threatening, primarily waterborne disease.
The report read in part, “Thirty-one states have reported suspected cholera cases in 2022. These are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
“In the reporting month, 16 states reported 575 suspected cases – Abia (1), Bauchi (62), Bayelsa (4), Benue (1), 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).
“There was an 18% increase in the number of new suspected cases in July Epi Week 27–30 (575) compared with June Epi Week 22–26 (473).
“In the reporting week, Bauchi (15), Borno (94), Kaduna (1), Kano (30), Katsina (23), Yobe (3), and Zamfara (9) reported 175 suspected cases.”
“Borno, Bauchi, Kano, and Katsina states account for 93% of the 175 suspected cases reported in week 30.”
“During the reporting week, only 1 Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test was conducted. The RDT conducted was from Borno (100%) positive.
“105 stool culture tests were conducted from Bauchi 6 (17%), Borno 94 (0%), Kano 2 (0%), Katsina 2 (0%), and Yobe 1 (0%) positive.
“Of the cases reported, there were 10 deaths, with a weekly case fatality ratio (CFR) of 5.7%.
“No new state reported cases in week 30.
“National Multi-Sectoral Cholera TWG continues to monitor response across states.”
Cumulatively, the report showed that as of July 31, 2022, a total of 3610 suspected cases, including 91 deaths (CFR 2.5%), have been reported from 31 states in 2022 and the suspected cases since the beginning of the year.
The age group, less than 5 years is the most affected age group for both males and females.
“Of all suspected cases, 49% are males and 51% are females.
“Nine states—Taraba (676 cases), Cross River (650), Katsina (378 cases), Borno (340 cases), Kano (318 cases), Ondo (283 cases), Zamfara (178 cases), Bayelsa (144 cases), Bauchi (100 cases) and Adamawa (56 cases) account for 87% of all cumulative cases.
“Seven LGAs across two states: Cross River (2), Borno (1), Kano (1), and Taraba (3) reported more than 100 cases each this year,” NCDC noted.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Ondo State epidemiologist, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi, urged the government to invest in the health sector.
“When we invest in health, housing, and education, people will know what proper health care is. We need to take the issue of development seriously. If not, we will continue to struggle with combating diseases that we are battling with in the country,” Fagbemi said.
A medical laboratory scientist at the Department of Microbiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Obinna Chukwudi, stated that cholera remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of inequity and lack of social development.
He said, “Cholera as an acute diarrhoeal disease can kill within hours if left untreated. We are in a rainy season in which most people who don’t have access to good and potable water depend on rainwater for drinking, which as a result could expose them to the disease.
“With the high cost of gas and even kerosene, most households don’t cook their food well to save money, hence, increasing their chances of cholera infection.”
