The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced that the country lacks sufficient cholera vaccines despite a record high death toll of 40 from the recent outbreak as of Friday, 2024.
Waffi TV reported that the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a global surge in cholera cases in several regions.
The United Nations revealed that nearly 195,000 cholera cases and over 1,900 deaths have been recorded in 24 countries since the beginning of the year. The Eastern Mediterranean Region had the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
The WHO disclosed that its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) was depleted by March, but it managed to surpass its emergency target by distributing over five million doses by early June 2024.
According to WHO, since January 2023, 16 countries have requested 92 million doses of OCV, almost double the 49 million produced in that period.
Meanwhile, NCDC Director-General Dr. Jide Idris stated that Nigeria has ordered more cholera vaccines from donor agencies, although the delivery date remains uncertain. He emphasized the importance of vaccines and other preventive measures to control the spread of cholera.
Cholera, a food and water-borne disease, is caused by the ingestion of Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food.
The NCDC recently alerted the public to the rising cholera cases due to the intensifying rainy season. In a statement on Thursday, June 13, 2024, Idris reported that from January 1 to June 11, 2024, there were 1,141 suspected cases, 65 confirmed cases, and 30 deaths in 96 local government areas across 30 states.
The NCDC identified the 10 states contributing 90 percent of the cholera burden: Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos. The Lagos State Ministry of Health reported 350 suspected cases, 17 confirmed cases, and 15 deaths due to severe dehydration from delayed treatment in 29 wards across multiple LGAs.
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