Cholera Claims 103 Lives As Nigeria Records Increase In Lassa Fever, Meningitis

-Deploys National Rapid Response Teams To Six States

As the rainy season fully sets in, no fewer than 103 persons have died as a result of the current cholera outbreak, which has so far recorded 3,623 suspected cases in 187 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 34 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris while updating newsmen on the cholera outbreak situation; prevention and response efforts at the national and sub-national levels on Tuesday in Abuja, raised concerns over a “significant” increase in other epidemic-prone diseases such as Lassa fever, meningitis and yellow fever.

Idris who disclosed that some northern traditional hotspot states were reporting fewer cases which may be connected with the delayed onset of the rainy season in those parts of the country, raised concerns over underreporting of the situation due to inadequate resources to support surveillance and disease detection activities at the subnational level.

He said: “It should be noted, since June 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has been actively responding to the cholera outbreak, which has had a significant impact on the health and well-being of our country.

“As of July 15, 2024, we have recorded 3,623 suspected cases and, unfortunately, 103 deaths across 34 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 187 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8% since the beginning of the year.

“The predominant age affected is 5 years old while males account for 52% of cases and females account for the rest.

“Furthermore, there was a 5.6% decline in the number of cases in this reporting week (8th -14th July) as compared to the preceding week. We also recorded a drop in the case fatality rate from 2.9% to 2.8%. Definitely there is a decline in case fatality rate from week 24 when the spike started to the present week.

“Whereas ongoing current efforts at the national and some state levels might have been yielding some results and largely responsible for the decline being reported, however, given the trend from previous years, we know it is not uhuru yet.

“Additionally this may likely be further complicated by the effect of political undertone for reporting cholera, which some see as a Stigma or disease proxy indicator for the inability of the affected communities/persons to have access to potable water and other basic amenities of life.

“NCDC is implementing the national incident action plan for the response, intensifying efforts targeted at supporting states to conduct active case search, optimize laboratory capacity, with prepositioning of cholera management supplies and capacity building in anticipation of possible surge ahead.

“We have our eyes on the ball, as we continue to strengthen case management efforts to sustain the decline in fatality ratio until we report the global target CFR of less than 1%.

“Using the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) we continue to lead the coordination, communication, and cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the national response.”

The NCDC boss further revealed that national rapid response teams (NRRT) have been deployed to the top 6 states contributing to about 83% of cases.

“The states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Ebonyi, Katsina and Zamfara States and plans are in place to deploy to more states, to strengthen surveillance system, improve case management, infection prevention and control and community engagement towards building community resilience. We continue to monitor the trends and will escalate the required support as the situation demands.”

Dr Idris appealed to Nigerians to keep cholera away but ensuring water was boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking, proper hand hygiene practices, consumption of well-cooked food, proper washing of raw food, such as fruits and vegetables, protecting food and drinks from contamination by flies and unsanitary handling

He further advised Nigerians to ensure leftover foods were thoroughly reheated before ingestion, persons with diarrhoea should not prepare or serve food or haul water for others., avoid open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping, and to desist from self-medication in the event of sudden sustained watery stool.

The NCDC boss who warned that one confirmed case of yellow fever constitutes an outbreak of the disease, disclosed that, “Currently, there are 3 presumptive positive cases which are reported from Ekiti (2) and Bayelsa (1) and 1 death. 1 confirmed case is generally considered an outbreak.

“The rains are fully here and flooding is already being reported in some parts of the country. In addition to the ongoing outbreak of cholera in the country, we have observed a significant increase in the reported incidence of other epidemic-prone diseases such as yellow fever etc.”