Zamfara, Five Others Account For 447 Suspected Cases Of Cholera — NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that six states, which include, Cross River (397), Zamfara (25), Ebonyi (11), Abia (9), Bayelsa (3) and Kano (2), reported 447 suspected cholera cases in weeks 5 to 9 of 2023.

The NCDC disclosed this on Monday via its official website, adding that about 12 states have reported suspected cholera cases since the beginning of 2023 – Abia, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto and Zamfara.

The agency said that as of March 5, a total of 922 suspected cases, including 32 deaths (CFR 3.5%), were reported from the 12 States in 2023, including Cross River (16), Ebonyi (six), Abia (six), Niger (two), Zamfara (one) and Bayelsa (one).

The NCDC’s epidemiological report showed that of all the cases recorded since the beginning of 2023, Cross River state accounted for 70 per cent of the cumulative cases across the country, with 647 cases.

It said that Cross River’s 16 deaths, accounted for 50 per cent of all cholera deaths in the country.

The NCDC said: “National multi-sectoral Cholera Technical Working Group (TWG) continues to monitor
response across states.

It said that of the suspected cases since the beginning of 2023, the age group above 45 years is the most affected for males and females.

The NCDC said that of all suspected cases, 54 per cent were males and 46 per cent were females.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholera 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.