The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has indicated that it might declare an emergency due to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country.

The Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, made this statement during the Adetokunbo Alakija Memorial Travel Medicine Lecture in Lagos, where he emphasized that the agency is monitoring the situation closely and will declare an emergency if the data shows that the outbreak has exceeded a manageable threshold.

The NCDC has reported over 1,141 suspected and over 65 confirmed cases of cholera, resulting in over 30 deaths, from January 1 to June 11, 2024, across 96 local government areas (LGAs) in 30 states.

The Lagos State Ministry of Health has recorded 350 suspected cases of cholera in 29 wards across multiple LGAs, with 17 confirmed cases and 15 fatalities attributed to severe dehydration caused by delayed presentation.

Dr. Idris emphasized that prevention and preparation are key to tackling such outbreaks. He warned that the agency is still awaiting reports from the team conducting the investigation and will declare an emergency if the data indicates that the situation has gone beyond a particular threshold.

The Lagos State Government has issued precautionary measures on cholera prevention to schools, parents, and guardians. The guidelines include ensuring strict hygiene practices among school food handlers, providing oral rehydration salts at school clinics, and maintaining functional handwashing facilities.

The government has also asked schools to report any health emergencies or suspected cholera cases to emergency lines and for parents to monitor their children's health and seek medical advice if they exhibit any signs of illness.