The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have reported 93,362 suspected cholera cases, resulting in the deaths of 3,283 persons in 32 states of the federation in 2021. In a Cholera Situation Report tagged ‘Weekly Epidemiological Report 18; Epi Week 41 spanning October 11 to 17, 2021, the NCDC stated that 32 states and the Federal Capital territory (FCT) have reported the suspected cholera cases in 2021.

“These are Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara and Lagos states. Other states that reported cholera outbreaks and deaths are Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara In the reporting week, seven states that reported 417 suspected cases are Yobe (121), Adamawa (86), Borno (71), Zamfara (67), Niger (49), Katsina (14) and Kaduna (9) There was a 22 per cent decrease in the number of new suspected cases in week 41 (417) compared with week 40 (535).

Yobe which recorded 121cases, Adamawa, 86 and Borno that reported 71 cases accounted for 67 per cent of 417 suspected cases reported in week 41. In addition, duringthe reporting week, 23 cholera rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) were conducted. The RDTs conducted were from Zamfara (11), Borno (5), Adamawa (5) and Kaduna (2). Of this, a total of 15 representing 65 per cent were positive by RDT. Furthermore, a total of four stool cultures were done in Zamfara (2) and Borno (2). Of this, a total of two representing 50 per cent were positive.

(Saturday Telegraph: Excluding headline)