LAGOS: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported on Monday that more than 350 people have died from cholera in Nigeria in the first nine months of this year, a 239% surge from the same period last year.
The data, released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), highlights the urgent health crisis facing the nation as it struggles with inadequate access to clean drinking water.
According to the NCDC, the number of suspected cholera cases has risen dramatically to 10,837, up from just 3,387 during the same period last year. Children under five years old are disproportionately affected.
Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, has reported the highest number of cholera cases. The situation is particularly dire in the northeastern state of Borno, where health officials recently declared a cholera outbreak amidst ongoing flooding that has displaced nearly two million residents.
Health authorities attribute the rise in cholera cases to a combination of factors, including the lack of potable drinking water in rural areas and urban slums, as well as insufficient sanitation facilities.
The NCDC has urged communities to prioritize hygiene practices, including handwashing and safe food preparation, as critical measures to curb the spread of cholera.
