Lagos, Jigawa, Kano, Oyo and four other states are leading the number of deaths from cholera since the beginning of the year, Daily Trust reports.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), a total of 10,837 suspected cases and 359 deaths from cholera have been reported.
An analysis of the latest situation report from the agency showed that the deaths recorded occurred in 21 states.
Nine states with the highest casualties are Lagos (134), Jigawa (52), Kano (46), Oyo (26), Ebonyi (16), Adamawa (16), Rivers (13), Katsina (12) and Bauchi (10).
The NCDC’s report stated that cumulative deaths recorded from cholera this year increased by 239 per cent compared to the ones recorded last year. The report also said suspected cases in the current year increased by 220 per cent compared to those reported as at week 39 of 2023.
According to the report, last month alone, 87 deaths, 1,938 suspected cases were recorded from the disease and 254 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) were conducted with 175 positive results.
States that have recorded cases include: Lagos (4,667), Jigawa (870), Kano (809), Borno (588), Katsina (559), Adamawa (553), Bayelsa (513), Bauchi (307), Ebonyi (244), Zamfara (212), Rivers (166), Abia (159), Yobe (146), Ogun (133), Oyo (128), Imo (90), Delta (85), Kebbi (83), Kaduna (74), Edo (55), Cross River (54), Osun (49), Sokoto (46), Ondo (41), Akwa Ibom (30), Kogi (25), Benue (23), Nasarawa (23), FCT (23), Ekiti (19), Niger (17), Gombe (16) and Kwara (16).
Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the organism, vibrio cholera, in contaminated water and food. Water is usually contaminated by the faeces of infected individuals.
“Once the bacterial is transmitted from either food, water or any other sources contaminated with the bacteria into the mouth, it then has the propensity of igniting the disease process in the individual,” Dr Dawal Kwande Solomon, a Consultant Family Physician said.
While there are numerous causes of vomiting and diarrhoea, in the case of cholera, the frequency of the passage of the watery stool is actually quite significant.
NCDC said the time between infection and the appearance of symptoms is two hours to five days.
“It has a higher risk of transmission in areas that lack adequate sanitation facilities and/or a regular supply of clean water. Unsafe practices such as improper disposal of refuse and open defecation endanger the safety of water used for drinking and personal use,” it said.