Nigeria is facing a severe cholera outbreak, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reporting 103 deaths from 3,623 suspected cases across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The outbreak has affected 187 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Ebonyi, Katsina, and Zamfara states being the most impacted, accounting for 83% of the total cases.

The NCDC noted a decrease in cases and fatalities compared to earlier in 2024 when the outbreak began. Additionally, a yellow fever outbreak has been reported in Ekiti and Bayelsa states, with three cases and one death.

During a press briefing, NCDC Director General Jide Idris provided updates on the cholera situation. He stated that the cumulative case fatality rate for cholera since the start of the year is 2.8%, with a 5.6% decline in cases during the week of July 8-14 compared to the previous week.

He attributed the improvement to the efforts of stakeholders and favorable weather conditions in some regions. However, he warned that the peak of the outbreak typically aligns with the peak of the rainy season, which is yet to come.

“Whereas ongoing current efforts at the national and some State levels might have been yielding some results and largely responsible for the decline being reported, however, given the trend from previous years, we know it is not uhuru yet,” Idris said.

“The trend analysis from previous outbreaks shows the peak of the outbreak usually coincides with the peak of the rainy season, which is still some weeks ahead. Additionally, some of the northern traditional hotspot States have been reporting fewer cases, which may be connected with the delayed onset of the rainy season in this part of the country.”

Idris highlighted that almost all states in Nigeria have reported cholera cases, but there appears to be underreporting due to inadequate resources for surveillance and disease detection at the sub-national level. “This may likely be further complicated by the effect of political undertone for reporting cholera, which some see as a stigma or disease proxy indicator for the inability of the affected,” he added.