NCDC Confirms 34 Cholera Deaths, 1,307 Suspected Cases in Nigeria’s 30 States

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says at least 1,307 suspected cases of cholera and 34 deaths have been recorded across 30 states so far in 2025.

The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, made the disclosure Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen about national health security, and status of the various diseases outbreaks in the country.

He said, “As of epidemiological week 16 (ending 20 April, 2025), 1,307 suspected cases of cholera have been reported across 30 states and 98 local government areas (LGAs), with 34 associated deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 2.6%. This rate is well above our target of less than 1%.”

He said as the country approaches the peak of the rainy season, a concerning trend in cholera transmission is emerging.

He said during the presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, the Federal Government issued a warning to 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) about imminent flood risks.

He said notably, this year’s outlook introduced a community-based forecasting approach designed to enhance preparedness and early response efforts across vulnerable regions.

Quoting the forecast, he said over 1,200 communities in 176 LGAs had been identified as high-risk flood zones, and an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs are classified as being at moderate risk of flooding.

He said, “This proactive dissemination of localized flood risk data is expected to drive coordinated action at the federal, state, and community levels, ensuring timely interventions that can help prevent waterborne disease outbreaks like cholera. NCDC is actively tracking these occurrences.”

He said while new cholera cases remained relatively low, their spread across 30 states amid the rainy season underscored the need for sustained vigilance.

He said, “We call for intensified multisectoral collaboration especially in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to prevent further transmission and reduce mortality.

Though recent declines in Lassa fever and meningitis offer hope, the rising risk of cholera demands renewed alertness. We urge all Nigerians, citizens, health workers, and partners to stay vigilant, act early, and follow preventive guidance.”

He called on state governments to prioritize action for solutions that ensure access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation, and proper hygiene practices in communities.

He appealed to states to avoid suppressing information and send their “line lists of cases in a timely manner.”

Dr Idris said the NCDC had commenced implementation of some measures to ensure readiness and early control.

They include cholera readiness workshops conducted in the South-West and North-west to enhance preparedness and response capacity.
He said similar ones are planned for the South-south, North-east, and North-central zones of the country this month.

While saying treatment protocols had been disseminated to all states, he added that 36 states and the FCT were being assessed for readiness to cholera outbreaks.

Intra action review on Cholera response would be carried out as at when due, he said

Dr Idris said cholera is a food and water-borne disease, caused by the ingestion of the organism Vibrio Cholerae in contaminated water and food. Water is usually contaminated by the faeces of infected individuals.

He said, “Contamination of drinking water can occur at the source, during transportation, or during storage at home. Food may be contaminated by soiled hands, either during preparation or while eating.

“Beverages prepared with contaminated water and sold by street vendors, ice, and even commercial bottled water have been implicated as vehicles of transmission, as have cooked vegetables and fruits freshened with untreated waste water.

The time between infection and the appearance of symptoms (incubation period) is 2 hours to 5 days. “

While noting that the disease has a higher risk of transmission in areas that lack adequate sanitation facilities and/or a regular supply of clean water, he said unsafe practices such as improper disposal of refuse and open defecation endanger the safety of water used for drinking and personal use.

The NCDC boss explained that people most at risk are: people of all ages living in places with limited access to clean water; people living in areas with poor sanitation and poor hygiene, people living in slum areas where basic water or sanitation infrastructure is missing; people living in rural areas who depend on surface water or unsafe piped or borehole well water sources for drinking; people who consume potentially contaminated food or fruits without washing and cooking properly; people who do not perform hand hygiene at appropriate times.

Others are man-made or natural disasters like flood, resulting in population movements and overcrowded refugee camps; relatives who care for sick people with cholera at home; healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and other health workers who provide direct patient care in the absence of standard precautions.

He further said cholera could be prevented through ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water; proper sanitation and waste disposal; and appropriate hygiene, including hand washing.

He warned that raw fruits and vegetables, food from street vendors, and raw or undercooked seafood should be avoided.

To reduce the risk of cholera, he advised the public to ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking and practise good personal hand hygiene, among others.

He also advised health workers to play a vital role in detecting and managing cholera cases.

He said, “We urge all healthcare professionals to: adhere strictly to the infection prevention and control protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment as needed.

“Promptly report suspected cases to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) in your state or laocal government area. Educate patients and community members about preventive practices. Refer patients with symptoms promptly to designated treatment centres.

“Healthcare workers are advised to always practice standard safety precaution i.e., wearing gloves while handling patients or providing care to an ill patient/relative.

Intensify surveillance efforts to promptly report suspected cholera cases,” Idris added.