1,110 cholera deaths recorded in Nigeria this year

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigeria has recorded 1,110 deaths this year from cholera outbreaks across 29 of its 36 states, the country's Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said in its weekly report issued on Wednesday.

The death figure this year is many times higher than the 84 recorded within the corresponding period in 2017, the agency added.

The report for week 43 showed that 48,686 suspected cholera cases were recorded, with 829 confirmed from laboratories across 29 states.

It said a national emergency operations center (EOC) for cholera has been activated at the center, adding that there has now been a decline in number of new cases reported.

Cholera is a potentially water-borne life-threatening disease. An estimated 1.4 billion people are at risk for cholera globally, with 2.8 million cases and 91,000 related deaths occurring annually in endemic.

Developing countries are disproportionately affected because of their lack of resources, infrastructure and disaster preparedness systems. In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during rainy seasons and more often in areas with poor sanitation.