What You Should Know About the Cholera Outbreak in Nigeria and How to Protect Yourself
As the rainy season intensifies, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised an alert regarding the increasing trend of cholera cases across the country, with a notable outbreak recently reported in Lagos State, the country’s economic hub.
From January 1 to June 11, 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera have been reported across 96 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 30 states. Sadly, there have been 30 deaths attributed to the outbreak. Ten states in the country, including Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos, have contributed 90 percent of the outbreak.
This is not the first time Nigeria is witnessing an outbreak of Cholera. Two years ago in 2022, the country witnessed over 23,000 suspected cases of cholera which resulted to 592 deaths. Last year, 128 people reportedly died of the disease. In 2018, at least 175 people reportedly died due to a cholera outbreak in the northeast states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
What You Should Know About The Disease
Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, which is typically found in contaminated water and food. The contamination often occurs through the faeces of infected individuals, and the disease is particularly prevalent in areas with inadequate sanitation facilities or a lack of clean water supply.
According to the NCDC, “Water is usually contaminated by the faeces of infected individuals. Contamination of drinking water can occur at the source, during transportation, or during storage at home. Food may be contaminated by soiled hands, either during preparation or while eating.”
Symptoms of Cholera
Cholera symptoms can appear within 2 hours to 5 days after infection. The disease is characterised by:
1) Acute, profuse, painless watery diarrhea (often described as “rice water stools”)
2) Vomiting
3) Nausea
4) Fever
In severe cases, cholera can lead to death within hours due to severe dehydration caused by massive fluid loss. However, about 80% of infected individuals may only exhibit mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
How To Prevent Cholera
Preventing cholera largely revolves around ensuring access to safe drinking water, maintaining proper sanitation, and practicing good hygiene. Here are key prevention tips:
1) Ensure access to safe, potable drinking water.
2) Maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal.
3) Wash hands frequently with soap and clean water, especially before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom.
4) Avoid raw fruits and vegetables unless they can be peeled or properly washed.
5) Avoid food from street vendors and raw or undercooked seafood.
6) Be cautious with beverages prepared with potentially contaminated water, including ice and commercially bottled water.
How To Treat Cholera
Cholera is easily treatable if detected early. Most cases can be managed successfully with the prompt administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, along with appropriate antibiotics. The ORS solution is a powder that can be mixed with boiled or bottled water. It is crucial for infected individuals to seek medical care immediately to prevent severe complications or death.
The NCDC advises that anyone who experiences sudden watery diarrhoea should not self-medicate, but rather visit the nearest healthcare facility.
