NCDC records four new deaths as suspected cholera cases exceed 100,000

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 78 new suspected cases of cholera, bringing the country’s current total to 100,057.

The development was disclosed in NCDC’s latest epidemiological report.

According to the agency, four new deaths were reported in two states with Borno and Kebbi accounting for 67% of the total number of suspected cases.

With suspected cases now reported in 32 states and the federal capital territory (FCT), a total of 3,449 deaths have also been recorded.

“Thirty-two states and FCT have reported suspected cholera cases in 2021. These are Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara,” the report reads.

“In the reporting week, 6 states reported 78 suspected cases — Borno (32), Kebbi (20), Adamawa (19), Cross River (3), Ogun (2) and Oyo (2).

“There was 81% decrease in the number of new suspected cases in week 44 (78) compared with week 43 (409). Borno (32) and Kebbi (20) account for 67% of 78 suspected cases reported in week 44.

“During the reporting week, 9 Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) were conducted. RDT conducted were from Adamawa (5), Kebbi (1), Cross River (1), Ogun (1) and Oyo (1). Of this, a total of three (33%) were positive by RDT.

“Only 1 stool culture was done in Adamawa and is not positive. Of the cases reported, there were four deaths from two states reporting with a weekly case fatality ratio (CFR) of 5.1%. No new state reported cases in week 44.”