Cross River, Ebonyi top list, as NCDC reports over 1,000 cholera cases in three months

The Nigeria Centre for Disease and Prevention Control has recorded 1,336 suspected cases of cholera and 79 deaths in 2023.

The NCDC in its latest cholera situation report said the cases were recorded in 12 states across 43 LGAs.

The states are Abia, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

The agency said of all suspected cases, 53 percent were male while 47 percent were female.

The report reads, “As of 2nd April 2023, a total of 1,336 suspected cases including 79 deaths (CFR 5.9%) have been reported from 12 states,”

“Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age groups 15-24 and >45 years are the most affected age groups for males and females respectively.

“Six states – Cross River (647 cases), Ebonyi (97 cases), Abia (72 cases), Niger (38 cases),
and Zamfara (28 cases) account for 96 percent 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 NCDC said it would continue training on cholera surveillance, hotspot mapping, state-level preparedness, and response plans.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation, said at least 24 countries continue to report cholera cases.

“The overall capacity to respond to the multiple and simultaneous outbreaks continues to be strained due to the global lack of resources, including shortages of the oral cholera vaccine, as well as overstretched public health and medical personnel, who are dealing with multiple disease outbreaks and other health emergencies at the same time. Based on the current situation, WHO assesses the risk at the global level as very high,” the WHO said.