The growing threat of cholera

Nearly 94,000 suspected cases of cholera were recorded in Nigeria between January and October 2021. Data compiled by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that suspected infections have been reported in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) since the beginning of the year. At least 3,293 deaths have been recorded, representing a 3.5% case fatality ratio.

This year’s outbreak is the worst in over a decade, according to the Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), an international humanitarian medical non-governmental organisation (NGO). It said in a publication last week it was working with the Ministry of Health to try to control the epidemic.

The data shows Bauchi having  the highest number of cases (19,452) this year, followed by Kano (12,116), Zamfara (11,100) and Jigawa (10,673). The latter has the highest number of deaths (470), followed by Sokoto (410), Kano (368), and Bauchi (323).

Other states that have recorded cholera cases include Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe, Niger, Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Benue, Delta, Bayelsa, Oyo, Kwara, Ebonyi, Kogi, Enugu, Taraba, Lagos, Abia, Cross River, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti. Rivers is the only state with 46  cases but no deaths.

 Nigeria’s response to the outbreak is led by the NCDC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and other partners. The response includes the promotion of hygiene, provision of safe water, water chlorination, household disinfection and sensitisation on dangers of open defecation in high-risk communities.

Some of the challenges limiting the government’s response includes inadequate vaccines, and inadequate health facility infrastructure and cholera commodities for management of patients. Difficulty in accessing some communities due to security concerns, and lack of potable drinking water in rural areas and urban slums have also been significant roadblocks to containing the outbreak.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection and is typically contracted from food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae. This is an old killer perennial disease. As old as it is, it doesn’t appear we are giving it the serious attention it deserves. 

From the NCDC data, cholera has killed 3,293 persons in 10 months of this year alone. This figure is double the death toll from the nouvel corona virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. The number of deaths from it stands at 2,992 so far.

However, compared to the national response to the cholera scourge, that given to COVID-19 has been more robust and quicker. A special presidential task force is leading the governmental response that includes mobilisation of the wealthy private sector to cue into the sensitization and curative drive. 

We are not saying that what is being done about COVID-19 is wrong. No. The novelty of the virus that causes it and its huge socio-economic impact demand the kind of attention the government is giving the disease. But we are saying that cholera, an old mass killer, deserves no less.