The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported a total of 3,623 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of July 15, 2024.
The outbreak has spread to 187 local government areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8%.
NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris stated that the predominant age affected is 5 years old, with males accounting for 52% of cases. He noted a 5.6% decline in the number of cases during the reporting week of July 8-14 compared to the previous week, along with a drop in the case fatality rate from 2.9% to 2.8%.
While ongoing efforts at the national and state levels may have contributed to the decline, Dr. Idris cautioned that the situation remains precarious, as the peak of the outbreak typically coincides with the rainy season peak, which is still weeks away.
He also mentioned that some northern traditional hotspot states have reported fewer cases, potentially due to the delayed onset of the rainy season in that region.
Dr. Idris highlighted the issue of underreporting, stating that almost all states have reported cholera cases, but required data from the states are not coming in real-time as expected.
He attributed this to inadequate resources to support surveillance and disease detection activities at the subnational level.
