NCDC Warns Nigerians Of Impending Cholera Outbreak Amid Rainy Season.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged Nigerians to take precautions against cholera as the country approaches the peak of the rainy season. The NCDC has reported 1,307 suspected cases of cholera across 30 states and 98 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with 34 associated deaths, representing a case fatality rate (CFR) of 2.6%.
The Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, emphasized the importance of good personal hygiene, proper waste disposal, and access to clean water in preventing the spread of cholera. He noted that the disease is highly contagious and can be fatal without prompt and adequate treatment.
Idris highlighted the need for sustained vigilance and multisectoral collaboration, particularly in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), to prevent further transmission and reduce mortality. He also warned that beverages prepared with contaminated water and sold by street vendors, ice, and commercial bottled water can be vehicles of transmission.
The NCDC boss noted that certain groups are at higher risk of contracting cholera, including people living in areas with limited access to clean water, poor sanitation, and hygiene. He listed symptoms of cholera, including acute, profuse, painless watery diarrhoea, and emphasized that the disease is easily treatable if detected early.
The NCDC has prioritized 134 Local Government Areas classified as hotspots for multisectoral intervention and is working with states to assess readiness to respond to cholera outbreaks.
