Cholera: Nigeria Records 922 Cases

According to the latest situation report obtained from the World Health Organisation, (WHO), a total of 922 cholera cases have so far been recorded in Nigeria in 2023.

The WHO noted that the data include the suspected positive rapid diagnostic tests and laboratory-confirmed cholera cases.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.

People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria.

The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.

As of March 20, 2023, at least 24 countries continue to report cholera cases.

With reference to historical transmission patterns and seasonality, large parts of the world are currently in low or interepidemic transmission periods, therefore this number could increase in the months to come.

Also, according to the report obtained from the website of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 157 confirmed cases of meningitis in the country from October 2022 till March 5, 2023.

A total of 628 suspected cases of meningitis, including 52 deaths, have been reported from 21 states and 66 Local Government Areas in the country.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, a thin layer of the connective tissue that covers the brain and the spinal cord.

The common signs and symptoms are fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, neck stiffness, and altered consciousness level.

The report reads in part, “Age group 5 -14 years was the most affected age group. Males were 62 per cent, females were 38 per cent.

“Ninety-One per cent of all cumulative cases were from four states – Jigawa (509 cases), Bauchi (23 cases), Zamfara (22 cases), and Oyo (14 cases).

“Ten LGAs across five states, Jigawa (7), Bauchi (1), Oyo (1), Plateau (1) and Zamfara (1), reported more than five cases each."