Nigeria has witnessed a dramatic increase in cholera-related deaths this year, with more than 350 lives lost in the first nine months, marking a staggering 239% rise compared to the same period last year.
Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), released on Monday, revealed that 359 people have died from the water-borne disease between January and September, compared to 106 deaths in the same timeframe last year.
Cholera, which thrives in areas with poor access to clean water, remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. Many rural communities and urban slums lack potable drinking water, exacerbating the spread of the disease.
The number of suspected cholera cases has also surged to 10,837, up from 3,387 in the previous year, with children under five years old being the most affected.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, reported the highest number of cases, while northeastern Borno State is grappling with a cholera outbreak alongside devastating floods that have displaced nearly two million people.
The NCDC and local authorities are ramping up efforts to contain the outbreak, but the rising number of cases continues to pose a critical threat to public health.
