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
NCS launches campaign to combat cancer ignorance
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 8, 2025 0

ABUJA,Nigeria (NAN)- The Nigerian Cancer Society announced on Friday in Abuja its commitment to init...

READ ALSO
NAFDAC destroys counterfeit, expired drugs worth N4.7b in Rivers
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 8, 2025 0

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the destruct...

READ ALSO
Shettima highlights Nigeria's growing medical tourism
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 7, 2025 0

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has stated that patients from the United States (US) and other nation...

READ ALSO
World Cancer Day: INAAC advocate support to combat skin cancer
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 5, 2025 0

BENIN, Nigeria - The Initiative for Advancement of the Albinism Cause (INAAC) has appealed for suppo...

READ ALSO
FG launch health insurance Plan for cancer, sickle cell patient
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 4, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria -The federal government has announced the development of a comprehensive implementati...

READ ALSO
Cholera Control: FG invest $124m initiative
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 4, 2025 0

 ABUJA,Nigeria (NAN)-The federal government has launched the National Strategic Plan of Action...

READ ALSO
FEC allocates $1.07bn to transform Nigeria's healthcare sector
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 3, 2025 0

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved 1.07 billion dollars for healthcare sector reforms...

READ ALSO
Ondo, W’Bank to revamp primary healthcare system
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara January 29, 2025 0

ONDO (NAN)- The Ondo State government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has announced an invest...

OUR CHANNELS:

Creating 31 new states is Ironic and Comical- Shehu Sanni
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 9, 2025 0

A former representative from Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, along with several Nige...


NAFDAC destroys counterfeit, expired drugs worth N4.7b in Rivers
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 9, 2025 0

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the destruct...


FG advocates reversal of mother tongue instruction policy in primary education
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 9, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria- The Federal Government has encouraged the National Council on Education and relevant...


Shettima highlights Nigeria's growing medical tourism
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 9, 2025 0

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has stated that patients from the United States (US) and other nation...


Fake Number plates, major security threat- FRSC
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 7, 2025 0

The Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has identified fake number plates as...


Nigeria's education system set for major reform, aligning with global standards
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 9, 2025 0

In an effort to overhaul the Nigerian education system to align it with those of more advanced count...


Geopolitical Shift: 31 new states proposes across Nigeria's regions
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 7, 2025 0

The House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creat...


FRSC Partners NDLEA, NESREA to combat illicit drug Use
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 7, 2025 0

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is collaborating with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency...


FCTA allocates N795.6m for 12-Month insurance policy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 9, 2025 0

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has allocated N795.6 million to secure a 12-mont...


65% prisoners awaiting trial- NBA
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 7, 2025 0

AKURE (NAN) - Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) reports that over 65 percent of the population in corre...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu