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…NCDC Warns Of Cholera, Lassa Fever Surge, Marburg Virus Threat
…Attributes Recent Spike In Cholera To Heavy Rainfall, Flooding
ABUJA – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Thursday said as of October 13, 2024, Nigeria recorded 14,237 cases of cholera across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 378 deaths.
The agency also raised the alarm over the continued surge of infectious diseases across the country, including cholera, Lassa fever, and emerging global threats such as the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Rwanda.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, reiterated the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and proactive in preventing the spread of these diseases.
“Our gathering today underscores the NCDC’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians. Over the past months, we have been deeply engaged in managing a wide range of infectious diseases, including cholera, yellow fever, diphtheria, and Mpox. We are also monitoring the global outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda,” Dr. Idris said.
According to him, cholera remains a critical public health concern, particularly in states affected by flooding and inadequate water and sanitation systems. As of October 13, 2024, Nigeria has recorded 14,237 cases of cholera across 35 states, with 378 deaths, translating to a 2.7% case fatality rate. The northern states of Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano have been identified as epicentres of the outbreak.
Dr. Idris expressed concern over the rapid spread of cholera, particularly among children under the age of five.
He attributed the most recent spike in cases to heavy rainfall and flooding in vulnerable areas.
“This year’s cholera outbreak has more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Our response includes deploying rapid response teams to affected states and conducting reactive cholera vaccinations in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps”, he said.
Speaking on the preparedness for Lassa fever and Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), he said as Nigeria approaches the dry season, the NCDC is ramping up its preparedness for Lassa fever and Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), both of which are expected to spike during this period.
Since the beginning of the year, the country has recorded 1,018 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and 172 deaths, Dr. Idris disclosed, noting that new cases continue to emerge, and efforts are being made to strengthen early detection, case management, and stockpiling of critical supplies.
“Training of healthcare workers, particularly in kidney failure management, a major cause of death from Lassa fever is ongoing, and we have installed dialysis machines at our treatment centres to reduce mortality rates,” the NCDC DG noted.
On Marburg virus threat and cross-border surveillance, Dr. Idris hinted that on the international front, the NCDC is closely monitoring the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, which has claimed 15 lives as of October 15.
Given the virus’s potential to spread through human-to-human transmission, he emphasised that Nigeria has heightened surveillance at points of entry and activated health declaration forms for incoming travelers.
“While there is no specific treatment for Marburg, we have identified isolation centres and are stockpiling the necessary medical supplies to respond should any cases be detected in Nigeria,” he said.
The NCDC is urging Nigerians traveling to affected regions to avoid contact with wild animals, particularly fruit bats, and to seek medical attention immediately if symptoms such as high fever, headache, or unexplained bleeding occur.
Dr. Idris , however, called on all Nigerians to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, stressing the importance of hand washing, food hygiene, and timely medical intervention.
He also urged state governments to improve their reporting of diseases to enable timely intervention and judicious use of resources.
“We need a collective effort to raise the bar of commitment, intensify efforts, and ensure adherence to public health advisories, not only during outbreaks but beyond,” Dr. Idris noted.
English (US) ·