NCDC Reports 3,623 Cholera Cases, 103 Deaths In 34 States

BY BLESSING NKEREUWEM – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that about 3,623 suspected Cholera cases and 103 deaths were reported across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as of July 15, 2024.

Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, said in Abuja on Tuesday that the current outbreak had spread to over 187 local government areas nationwide, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 per cent since the beginning of the year.

Idris, who reeled out the figures at a press briefing, said the predominant age affected was five years old, while males account for 52 per cent of cases and females account for the rest.

However, the NCDC Chief Executive said there was a 5.6 per cent decline in the number of cases in this reporting week (8th -14th July) as compared to the preceding week.

According to him; “As of July 15, 2024, we have recorded 3,623 suspected cases and, unfortunately, 103 deaths across 34 states plus the Federal Capital Territory and 187 Local Government Areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 per cent since the beginning of the year. The predominant age affected is 5 years old while males account for 52 per centof cases and females account for the rest.

“Furthermore, there was a 5.6 per cent 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 per cent to 2.8 per cent.

“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 are largely responsible for the decline being reported, however, given the trend from previous years, we know it is not Uhuru yet.”

Furthermore, Idris noted that “The trend analysis from previous outbreaks shows the peak of the outbreak usually coincides with the peak of the rainy season, which is still some weeks ahead.

“Also, some of the northern traditional hotspot states have been reporting fewer number of cases, which may be connected with the delayed onset of the rainy season in this part of the country”.

Offering further information on the unfortunate health issue, the NCDC Boss said though almost all the states in Nigeria had reported cases of cholera, there appeared to be an underreporting of the situation as required data from the states were not coming in real-time as expected, given the trend in previous years.

He told journalists that; “This is largely due to inadequate resources to support surveillance and disease detection activities at the subnational level.

“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”.

Added to the current outbreak of cholera in the country, Idris stated that there is a significant increase in the reported incidence of other epidemic-prone diseases such as Yellow fever, Lassa fever, meningitis, among others.

This is as he assured that the Federal Government, through the NCDC, is actively responding to the Cholera outbreak, towards curtailing its damaging impact on the health and well-being of Nigerians and the country at large.