Over 65,000 Suspected Cholera Cases Recorded Across 35 States NCDC.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported over 65,000 suspected cases of cholera across 35 states and nearly 195 local government areas nationwide since the beginning of 2026.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, confirmed this on Friday during a press briefing on the situation regarding the cholera outbreak and diphtheria.
Idris stated that the weekly number of cholera infections has significantly dropped compared to when the disease peaked earlier this year. He also noted that the case fatality rate has decreased compared to the same period in 2025.
However, he warned that this decline does not mean the outbreak is over. He added that the disease is still spreading and could surge as the rainy season continues.
He explained that in previous years, an increase in cholera cases was mostly observed from late August to October, largely due to flooding that contaminates drinking water sources and damages sanitation systems.
According to him, Borno State accounts for the highest number of cases, but prompt medical intervention is being provided in the affected areas.
Dr. Idris emphasized that while medical treatment saves lives, cholera cannot be eradicated through treatment alone.
He cited the lack of clean drinking water, open defecation, damaged water distribution networks, poor hygiene, and inadequate sanitation facilities in schools and markets as the main drivers of the disease's spread.