The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has blamed poor and inconsistent reporting of cholera cases from states as one of the major challenges to the country’s response to the disease’s outbreak.
This is just as it disclosed that six states account for 84 per cent of cholera cases reported in the country.
It listed the states as Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Gombe, Taraba and Kano.
It added that 15 local government areas across five states – Borno (7), Yobe (4), Taraba (2), Gombe (1), and Zamfara (1)—reported more than 200 cases each this year.
The NCDC disclosed these in its latest weekly cholera situation report for weeks 44–47, published on Tuesday on its website.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that cholera is a highly contagious disease that occurs in environments without clean water and proper sanitation.
It causes profuse diarrhoea and vomiting, and without treatment, it can quickly lead to death by intense dehydration. For most states, the current surge of cholera is due to specific, local conditions.
The public health agency said that the difficulty in accessing some communities due to security concerns, open defecation, and poor hygiene practices in many communities was responsible for the surge in the disease.
It said that at the moment, it is tackling cholera outbreaks in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The NCDC said a total of 583 deaths have been recorded due to cholera, while 23,550 people were suspected to have been infected with the disease between January and November 27, 2022.
According to the centre, suspected cases of cholera had been reported across 270 local government areas in the 32 states and the FCT.
The NCDC also said that of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, the age group 5–14 years is the most affected; 49 per cent are males and 51 per cent are females.
The report read partly, “32 states and the FCT have reported suspected cholera cases in 2022. In the reporting month, six states reported 1,393 suspected cases: Borno (1,124), Gombe (165), Bauchi (61), Katsina (16), Adamawa (14), and Kano (13).
“There was a 78 per cent decrease in the number of new suspected cases in November Epi weeks 44–47 (1393) compared with October Epi weeks 40–43 (6306).
In the reporting week, Borno (24), Gombe (14), Bauchi (13), Kano (5), Katsina (1), and Adamawa (1), reported 58 suspected cases. Borno, Gombe, and Bauchi states account for 88 per cent of the 58 suspected cases reported in week 47.
“During the reporting week, two Cholera Rapid Diagnostic tests were conducted in Gombe 2 (100 per cent positive).
“In epi week 47, two stool culture tests were performed in Gombe (one was 100 per cent positive) and Bauchi (one was zero per cent positive).
“Of the cases reported, there were two deaths with a weekly case fatality ratio (CFR) of 3.4 per cent.”
The Public Health Agency said there were no new state-reported cases in week 47.
It, however, said the National Multi-Sectoral Cholera Technical Working Group continues to monitor response across states.
The NCDC said cholera was easy to treat, with oral rehydration for most patients, and intravenous rehydration for more severe cases.
“If treated in time, more than 99 per cent of patients will survive the disease.
“An effective response to cholera involves engaging on several different fronts at the same time—and as fast as possible—to treat sick patients and stop transmission within communities,” it said.