By Nurat Uthman
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said the country has recorded a total of 429 suspected cases of cholera, including 17 deaths, so far in 2023.
The NCDC disclosed this in its latest Cholera situation weekly epidemiological report for week four (January 2-29) posted on its official website.
The report revealed that the cases were reported from 11 states across 24 Local Government Areas.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, a gramme-negative rod-shaped bacterium.
In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more often in areas with poor sanitation.
The statement read in part, “As of January 29, 2023, a total of 429 suspected cases including 17 deaths (CFR 4.0 per cent) have been reported from 11 states.
“Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, the age group 0- 5 years is the most affected age group for males and females.
“Of all suspected cases, 51 per cent are males and 49 per cent are females. Six states – Cross River (242 cases), Ebonyi (86 cases), Niger (38 cases), Abia (35 cases), and Ondo (10 cases) account for 96% of all cumulative cases.
“Fifteen LGAs across nine states Ebonyi (4), Cross River (3), Ondo (2), Bayelsa (1), Abia (1), Katsina (1), Sokoto (1) Niger (1) and Zamfara (1), reported more than 5 cases each this year.”
The agency decried the 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, poor hygiene practice in most cholera-affected communities and inadequate health facility infrastructure and cholera commodities for management of patients.
It, however, said it will continue training on cholera surveillance, and hotspots mapping and develop state-level preparedness and response plans.
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