Mujeeb Akindoyin
Nigeria has recorded more than 65,000 suspected cholera cases across 35 states and about 195 local government areas, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has disclosed.
The NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, who disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, said although the country had witnessed a substantial decline from the peak of the outbreak, cholera transmission remained active and could worsen with the onset of conditions favourable to its spread.
Idris raised particular concern over the impact of the rainy season and flooding, warning that contaminated water sources and overstretched sanitation systems could trigger a fresh wave of infections.
He said the country’s response had produced better outcomes, with the proportion of reported cases resulting in deaths considerably lower than the corresponding period last year.
According to him, early access to treatment and the establishment of treatment services closer to affected communities had contributed significantly to saving lives.
Borno records highest burden
Idris said Borno State had recorded the highest number of cholera cases so far this year, noting that communities with treatment services located closer to affected populations recorded better outcomes.
However, he stressed that treatment alone would not eliminate the disease, urging authorities to address the environmental and infrastructure conditions responsible for repeated outbreaks.
“Open defecation, damaged water systems and poor sanitation in schools, markets and public institutions continue to expose communities to cholera risks,” he said.
The NCDC boss called for sustained investment in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, as well as stronger environmental health measures and community awareness campaigns.
He said the government was combining treatment with oral cholera vaccination, water chlorination, rehabilitation of damaged water sources and hygiene promotion in affected communities.
In Borno, he said response teams had investigated possible transmission sources and assessed water supply points to identify gaps in water quality, sanitation and chlorination.
He added that in Bauchi State, oral rehydration points had been established, treatment capacity strengthened and active case searches intensified in affected communities.
The NCDC DG also disclosed that Nigeria had recorded more than 10,000 confirmed diphtheria cases in 2026, with Kano, Borno and Bauchi among the states carrying the highest burden.
He said the fatality proportion had also declined considerably compared with last year, but warned that inadequate vaccination coverage remained a major challenge.
According to Idris, a significant number of children remain either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to the vaccine-preventable disease.
He identified vaccine hesitancy, insecurity, displacement, hard-to-reach communities and population movement as factors complicating efforts to reach eligible children.
“Diphtheria is vaccine-preventable and requires intensified vaccination to protect children and interrupt transmission,” he said.
The agency, he added, would continue working with state governments and development partners to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and case management.
National Rapid Response Teams have also been deployed to affected states to support investigations, surveillance and outbreak response.
Idris said reactive vaccination campaigns were ongoing in affected areas, alongside the provision of essential treatment and laboratory commodities.
He urged state and local governments to prioritise safe water, sanitation and hygiene, routine immunisation and targeted vaccination, particularly in communities considered to be at high risk.
The NCDC boss also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, identify cases early, report promptly, commence appropriate treatment and adhere strictly to infection prevention and control measures.
Idris urged Nigerians to use safe water, practise proper sanitation and handwashing, seek medical attention promptly when experiencing watery diarrhoea and ensure that children receive all recommended diphtheria vaccines.
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