The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has blamed poor and inconsistent reporting of cholera cases from states as one of the major challenges to the country’s response to the disease’s outbreak.
This is just as it disclosed that six states account for 84 per cent of cholera cases reported in the country.
It listed the states as Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Gombe, Taraba and Kano.
It added that 15 local government areas across five states – Borno (7), Yobe (4), Taraba (2), Gombe (1), and Zamfara (1)—reported more than 200 cases each this year.
The NCDC disclosed these in its latest weekly cholera situation report for weeks 44–47, published on Tuesday on its website.
The public health agency said that the difficulty in accessing some communities due to security concerns, open defecation, and poor hygiene practices in many communities was responsible for the surge in the disease.
It said that at the moment, it is tackling cholera outbreaks in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The NCDC said a total of 583 deaths have been recorded due to cholera, while 23,550 people were suspected to have been infected with the disease between January and November 27, 2022.
According to the centre, suspected cases of cholera had been reported across 270 local government areas in the 32 states and the FCT.
The NCDC also said that of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, the age group 5–14 years is the most affected; 49 per cent are males and 51 per cent are females.
The Public Health Agency said there were no new state-reported cases in week 47.
It, however, said the National Multi-Sectoral Cholera Technical Working Group continues to monitor response across states.
