As the rainy season intensifies, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has released a report indicating that there are increasing cases of cholera across the country.
Cholera is a food and water-borne disease, caused by the ingestion of the organism Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food.
NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris in a statement said: “From the 1st of January to the 11th of June 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera with 30 deaths have been reported from 96 LGAs in 30 states.”
According to him, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos States have contributed 90 percent to the burden of cholera.
“NCDC is leading a multi-sectoral National Cholera Technical Working Group, comprising the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, which have also been lending support to the affected states.
“The support included risk communication, active case search, laboratory diagnosis, case management, provision of response commodities, water sanitation, hygiene (WASH) interventions, and dissemination of cholera awareness jingles in both English and local languages,” Idris said.
NCDC said that cholera can be prevented through ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water; proper sanitation and waste disposal, and appropriate hygiene, including hand washing.
The Centre, advised the public to avoid raw fruits and vegetables, food from street vendors, and raw or undercooked seafood and ensure that water is boiled, and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking.
It also said people should cultivate the habit of personal hygiene by washing their hands frequently with soap under clean running water is also recommended by the Centre.
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