200 killed in cholera outbreak in Nigeria
Washington, July 23
About 200 people have died in a worsening cholera outbreak in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno over the past two months, the global medical charity Doctors Without Borders has said.
In a statement issued on Wednesday (local time), the MSF expressed concern over the worsening outbreak, warning that the disease could overwhelm local health facilities despite ongoing response efforts.
As of July 12, at least 198 people had died, and more than 35,500 suspected cases had been reported in the state, the MSF cited the data released by the Borno state government.
The organisation said it had treated more than 24,000 patients with suspected cholera as of July 12 while working alongside government health authorities and humanitarian partners. It attributed the continued spread of the disease to inadequate access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare services in affected communities, according to Xinhua news agency.
In April, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention placed 10 states on high alert over the risk of cholera outbreaks linked to heavy rainfall and flooding.
The Nigerian government has activated its incident management system and deployed health teams to affected regions. International organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN) Children's Fund, and the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, have joined in the fight against the outbreak.
Bukar Tijjani, secretary to the Borno State Government, said the state has implemented emergency measures, including restricting access to water sources such as local dams and reservoirs, and expanding the supply of safe drinking water through tankers, while investigations into the source of the outbreak are underway.
Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by contaminated food or water, remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in states affected by flooding and poor water and sanitation infrastructure.
— IANS
Reader Comments
35,000 cases in just two months! 😢 This is a public health emergency. As a doctor, I know cholera is 100% preventable with basic sanitation and clean water. The world needs to step up and help Nigeria build better water infrastructure, not just react to outbreaks.
This is heartbreaking. MSF and WHO are doing heroic work, but they can't solve the root problem. The Nigerian government needs to prioritize clean water access and sanitation infrastructure. No one should die from drinking dirty water in 2024.
Reminds me of the floods in Kerala a few years back - we had a cholera scare but thankfully contained it quickly. These outbreaks are getting worse with climate change causing more flooding. Global warming isn't just about rising temperatures, it's about diseases like this spreading faster.
Where is the international community? 200 deaths and 35,000 cases is a massive crisis. India should offer assistance too, we have experience dealing with cholera and have good oral rehydration therapy programs. Humanity should help humanity. 🙏
The restriction on water access mentioned in the article is problematic. You can't stop people from accessing water if there's no alternative. First provide clean water, then restrict contaminated sources. Otherwise people will just drink dirty water and get sicker.
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