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Cholera: Nigeria Records 54 Deaths, 1,862 Cases In 16 States

  No fewer than 54 people have died of Cholera disease in the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said. Advertisement In … Continue reading Cholera: Nigeria Records 54 Deaths, 1,862 Cases In 16 States


A file photo of an NCDC official and two others on duty
A file photo of an NCDC official and two others on duty.

 

No fewer than 54 people have died of Cholera disease in the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.

In its latest report on the outbreak of the disease, the NCDC stated that the deaths were recorded between January 1 and May 1, 2022.

It added that over 1,800 suspected cases were reported in 77 local government areas across 16 states of the country.

The states are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara.

READ ALSO: Cholera Has Killed Twice As Many People As COVID-19 In 2021 – NCDC Data

“As of 1st May 2022, a total of 1,861 suspected cases, including 54 deaths (CFR2.9%) have been reported from 16 states in 2022,” the report said. “Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age group <5 years is the most affected age group for male and female.

“Of all suspected cases, 50% are males and 50% are females. Three states – Taraba (615 cases), Cross River (593) and Katsina (134 cases) account for 72% of all cumulative cases.”

According to the health agency, 12 local government areas across six states reported more than 30 cases each this year.

These comprise five in Cross River, three in Taraba, as well as one each in Bayelsa, Katsina, Kebbi, and Rivers State.

 

Cholera, an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine, is contracted when patients swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria.

Although the infection is often mild or without symptoms, it can be severe and life-threatening sometimes.

Last year, the NCDC said the number of people who died of cholera was twice as many as those killed by COVID-19.

Data from the agency indicated that while the death toll from cholera in 2021 was 3,604, the figure of those who died of COVID-19 complications was 1,750.

“Sadly, cholera has actually killed more people than COVID so far,” NCDC Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, had said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily in December 2021.