‘Children most affected’ — NCDC records 701 suspected cholera cases in two months

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 701 suspected cases of cholera have been recorded in the country in the first two months of 2022.

According to the agency’s recent cholera situation report, the cases were recorded in 12 states.

They include Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Rivers, Taraba and Zamfara.

The NCDC, in its report, also said 19 out of the suspected cases have died so far.

The agency said in week eight, two suspected cholera cases were recorded.

“There was 33% decrease in the number of new suspected cases in week 07 (3) compared with week 8 (2),” the report reads.

“Nasarawa and Rivers states account for 100% of 2 suspected cases reported in week 08.

“During the reporting week, only 1 Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) was conducted. The RDT conducted was from Nasarawa. This was positive – 1 (100%). No stool culture was conducted.

“Of the cases reported, there was no death from the two states reporting with a weekly case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.0%. No new state reported cases in week 08. National multi-sectoral Cholera TWG continues to monitor response across states.”

The agency said of all the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, “age group <5 years is the most affected age group for male and female”.

“Of all suspected cases, 47% are males and 53% are females,” the report reads.

“Three states – Taraba (242 cases), Cross River (111), Borno (91 cases), Bayelsa (76) and Adamawa (56 cases) account for 82% of all cumulative cases.

“Ten LGAs across six states — Borno (3), Cross River (2), Taraba (2), Bayelsa (1) Kwara (1) and Rivers (1) reported more than 10 cases each this year.”