At least 647 cases of cholera have been recorded in Cross River State, south south region of Nigeria in three months, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said.
“Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, the Centre said age groups 15-24 and 45 years is the most affected, males and females respectively.
Apart from saying that Cross River State has recorded 647 cases, the NCDC also said that Ebonyi has 97 cases, Abia 72 cases, Niger 38 cases, and Zamfara 28 cases, which account for 96% of all cumulative cases.
It was gathered that as of 2nd April 2023, a total of 1,336 suspected cases including 79 deaths (CFR 5.9%) have been reported from 12 states.
A report by ICIR said the suspected cases were recorded in Abia, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto and Zamfara.
It said the latest cholera disease situation report covered all the suspected cases recorded between March 6 and April 2.
The report released on Monday, April 18, said fifteen LGAs across nine states reported more than five cases each this year, including Ebonyi (4), Cross River (3), Ondo (2), Bayelsa (1), Abia (1), Katsina (1), Sokoto (1) Niger (1) and Zamfara (1).
While 53 per cent of suspected cases involve males and the remaining 47 females, the Centre said 12 of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had recorded suspected cholera cases in 2023.
However, it was reported and gathered that, earlier in January, residents of Obubra LGA in Cross River Central Senatorial District had called on the state government for assistance following a cholera outbreak that claimed over 60 lives in the area.
According to ICIR, 233 deaths were recorded from a total of 10,217 suspected cases of cholera in 31 states between January and October 2022.
“Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with vibrio cholerae bacteria. It said.
Lack of potable water is a major factor in the outbreak of cholera as several communities in Nigeria are experiencing challenges relating to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).