The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a significant surge in cholera cases in Nigeria during 2024, with suspected cases increasing by a staggering 220 percent.

According to the latest epidemiological report published on its official website, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) highlights that cholera is an acute intestinal infection primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water, with communities lacking adequate sanitation being the most vulnerable.

Factors such as conflict, climate change, insufficient access to safe water and sanitation, poverty, underdevelopment, and population displacement due to ongoing conflicts and natural disasters are driving the rise in cholera outbreaks.

By the conclusion of Epidemiological Week 39, the NCDC indicated that the country had recorded 10,837 suspected cases and 359 fatalities, marking a 239 percent increase in deaths compared to 2023.

The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for the year is reported at 3.3 percent, slightly above the 3.1 percent noted in the previous year. In the past week alone, there were 198 new suspected cases reported across five states, resulting in 15 deaths and a weekly CFR of 7.6 percent.

The states most impacted during Week 39 include Adamawa (131 cases), Ebonyi (30 cases), Borno (29 cases), Kano (seven cases), and Jigawa (one case).

Adamawa remains a significant area of concern, having reported 535 suspected cases in the last month. The agency indicated that since the start of 2024, Lagos has recorded the highest number of suspected cholera cases, accounting for 43 percent of the national total, with Lagos Island Local Council contributing five percent of the overall cases in the country.

To assess the situation, stool cultures have been utilized, with 254 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) conducted, resulting in 175 positive outcomes, alongside 149 stool cultures, of which 103 were confirmed positive.

Additionally, other states such as Jigawa, Kano, Borno, and Katsina have also reported notable case numbers, emphasizing the widespread nature of the outbreak.

The NCDC reported that children under five years are the most affected demographic, followed by those aged five to 14. The data shows that males represent 52 percent of the total suspected cases, while females account for 48 percent.

The NCDC's findings highlight the urgent need for ongoing vigilance and response initiatives, as the outbreak continues unabated. The agency has established a national multi-sectoral Cholera Technical Working Group to oversee and address outbreaks in various states. It has also emphasized the critical need for enhanced sanitation, access to clean water, and public health education to mitigate the spread of the disease.