Nigerian health officials are raising alarms over a cholera outbreak that has resulted in at least 30 deaths since the beginning of the year, with many fatalities occurring in Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub.
Cholera, an acute intestinal infection, spreads through contaminated food and water, leading to severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, and can sometimes be fatal.
Lagos State health authorities have reported 15 deaths and approximately 350 suspected cases so far, according to a recent statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Lagos Water Corporation has advised against consuming water from unreliable or untreated sources.
“The Lagos State Ministry of Health has identified contaminated water and poor sanitation as the primary causes of the cholera outbreak,” the Corporation stated.
Last week, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) warned the public about the rising number of cholera cases nationwide, exacerbated by the ongoing rainy season.
The NCDC confirmed that 30 people have died since the start of the year. Last year’s outbreak claimed 128 lives and saw over 3,600 suspected cases across Nigeria, in stark contrast to just two deaths in 2022.
Nigeria remains particularly susceptible to cholera outbreaks. In 2021, an epidemic claimed more than 2,300 lives, with children under the age of 14 being especially affected, according to health officials.
