Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Cholera death toll hits 378, Mpox 102 – NCDC

POSTED ON October 18, 2024 •   Health & Wellness      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara
Director-General, NCDC, Dr. Olajide Idris

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 14,237 cases of cholera across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, spanning 339 local government areas as of October 13, 2024.

The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, who made this known at a press briefing in Abuja, on Thursday, said 378 deaths had been recorded from cholera.

The DG also disclosed that the number of confirmed Mpox cases in the country increased to 102 across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, up from the previous total of 94 cases.

Idris said cholera remained a serious public health issue, particularly in areas with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene systems.

He, however, said the centre was working with stakeholders to mitigate the spread.

“As of October 13, 2024, a total of 14,237 cases of cholera have been reported across 35 states and the FCT, spanning 339 local government areas.

“Sadly, 378 lives have been lost, resulting in a case-fatality ratio of about  2.7 per cent. The burden of this outbreak disproportionately affects the most vulnerable–children under the age of five.

“This year has seen two significant waves of cholera, with the most recent surge, reported during the week of September 29, attributed to the heavy rains and subsequent flooding.

“This is a pattern we anticipated, having foreseen the risks through data and advisories provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

“The floods in the northern states such as Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano have exacerbated the spread of cholera, making these states the current epicentres of the outbreak.

“Earlier in the year, the cholera cases were concentrated in southern states as the rains began there, but we have seen a shift, with northern states now accounting for a significant portion of cases.

“The number of suspected cholera cases and deaths in 2024 has more than doubled when compared to this time last year.

“These numbers reflect the severity of the outbreak and reinforce the need for continuous vigilance and action.

“It also underscores the developmental issues that should be addressed both at the national and sub-national levels with improved commitment  towards addressing challenges relating to inadequate access to clean  water, open defecation, poor environmental sanitation, food and personal hygiene.”

He said the agency has deployed rapid response teams, including experts from health line ministries to the affected northern states.

He added that high-level advocacy visits, including to Borno State, were conducted to engage with states’ health leadership, encourage response teams, and offer support to communities displaced by floods.

“Our efforts have been bolstered by collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“Together, we have successfully supported our sister agency, the NPCHDA, to carry out reactive cholera vaccinations in internally displaced persons camps, a move that has proven crucial in the reduction in cases being reported.

“We urge all Nigerians to practice good personal, food, and environmental hygiene, with emphasis on regular hand washing with soap and water under running water; and seek medical care immediately if cholera symptoms—such as severe diarrhoea and vomiting—occur.

“Looking ahead, our priorities remain clear -we will continue to enhance surveillance, improve prompt treatment of affected persons, and strengthen Water Sanitation and Hygiene practices in affected communities. Cholera is a preventable disease, and with collective effort, we can control and eventually eliminate this threat,” he stated.

On Mpox, Idris said in response to the threat, especially in light of regional cross-border transmission, the NCDC has reinforced its strategy to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We are primarily dealing with the Clade IIB variant, which has been circulating in Nigeria; however, we are also monitoring the situation in Cameroun where both Clade IB & IIB are reported, and heightening our surveillance for the Clade IB, a more severe strain currently circulating in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC, which has the potential for rapid spread through community transmission.

“Nigeria has continued to manage the outbreak with vigilance. As of October 13, a total of 102 confirmed cases have been recorded across 26 states and the FCT, from 1,339 suspected cases.  Encouragingly, there have been no recorded deaths, but we remain cautious.

“The observed steady rise in the number of reported cases in recent weeks can be attributed to enhanced surveillance and improved case detection across the country,” he said.

He stated that the agency’s response strategy rested on stakeholder engagement, surveillance and diagnostic capacity, community engagement, and vaccination campaign.

He added, “In partnership with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, we are facilitating the deployment of 10,000 doses of the Mpox Jynneos vaccine, prioritising high-risk groups such as contacts of confirmed cases and immunocompromised individuals.

“Priority states for this vaccination campaign include Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross  River, and Akwa Ibom, based on the burden of Mpox cases reported since  2017.

“Anyone with rash illness is advised to visit the nearest health facility for care. The general public is advised to avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals and avoid consumption of under-cooked meat.”

READ ALSO
Dengue Fever Outbreak, 86 Cases Confirmed
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

EDO, Nigeria - The Ministry of Health in Edo State reported on Friday that there is an outbreak of d...

READ ALSO
Over 50% of Psychiatric Admissions Linked to Drug Abuse in Yola- Psychiatrist
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 27, 2025 0

YOLA, Nigeria - A consultant psychiatrist, Joel Umar, noted that a significant increase in drug abus...

READ ALSO
Kylian Mbappé to rejoin Team after Food Poison Treatment
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 20, 2025 0

France and Real Madrid of Spain forward, Kylian Mbappe, has been discharged from hospital after bein...

READ ALSO
WHO Unveils First Global Guidelines for Managing Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnancy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced its inaugural global guideline for managing sickl...

READ ALSO
NDLEA Alerts Parents: Watch for Suspicious Snacks in Children's Bags
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a serious warning to parents, advising t...

READ ALSO
Health Council Workers Face Salary Delays Due to Federal Funding Cuts
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 11, 2025 0

More than 1,500 health professionals associated with the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria hav...

READ ALSO
WHO Declares Mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 11, 2025 0

The World Health Organization has stated that the ongoing rise in mpox cases qualifies as a Public H...

READ ALSO
Students mobilise for Malaria Contest with N1b Geneith health
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 5, 2025 0

In an effort to tackle one of Nigeria’s deadliest diseases, Geneith Pharmaceuticals Ltd has la...

OUR CHANNELS:

Nigerian States Accumulate N417.7 Billion in Domestic Debt Amid Rising FAAC Revenue
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

At least 10 Nigerian states have cumulatively increased their domestic debt by N417.7 billion from t...


Governor Otti Facilitates Release of Inmates After 26 Years
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Saturday welcomed three Nigerians who were released after spendi...


Tinubu Pledges to Eliminate Bureaucratic Hurdles in Agriculture During Bilateral Talks with Brazil
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu expressed his commitment on Saturday to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio...


Sowore Condemns Tenure Extensions of Senior Security Officials for Violating 35-Year Service Limit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 7, 2025 0

Human rights advocate and ex-presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, has criticized the ongoing tenur...


Eight Dead, Eight Injured as Commercial Bus Crashes into Truck
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

Just 48 hours after a road accident in Ogun State resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, another...


Nigerian Investors Launch $5 Billion Cooperative Trust Fund to Empower MSMEs
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

A coalition of Nigerian investors has introduced a Cooperative Trust Fund valued at $5 billion, aime...


Nnamdi Kanu's Release Not a Condition for South-East Support of Tinubu- Umahi
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

In light of calls for the release of the detained Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous Peopl...


Real Madrid Edges Borussia Dortmund 3–2 in Thrilling FIFA Club World Cup Clash
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 6, 2025 0

Real Madrid emerged victorious from a heart-stopping 3–2 thriller against Borussia Dortmund in...


NCDC Reports 781 Confirmed Lassa Fever Cases in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

Nigeria has reported 145 fatalities attributed to Lassa fever, which corresponds to a case fatality...


Flood: 27 Lives Lost, Hundreds Displaced Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts in Kerr County
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 6, 2025 0

At least 27 people have been confirmed dead, with many more displaced due to flash flooding in Kerr...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu