Lara Adejoro The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has warned against consuming beverages, ice, and drinks prepared with unclean or contaminated water as it can spread cholera. Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by the ingestion of the bacteria— Vibrio cholerae— in contaminated water and food. Symptoms of cholera include acute profuse, painless watery diarrhoea (rice water stools) of sudden onset, with or without vomiting.
It may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting, and fever. Experts say severe cases of cholera can lead to death within hours due to dehydration. However, about 80 per cent of infected people may only show mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all.
In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more frequently in areas with poor sanitation. The 10 states contributing 90 per cent to the current cholera outbreak burden include Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos states. So far, from January 1 to June 11, 2024, cholera cases have been reported from 96 LGAs in 30 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts say cholera is prevalent in areas with high-density populations, poor water supply, and poor personal and environmental hygiene. Earlier, the Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris disclosed that the agency is conducting a risk assessment, and assisting states to resp.
