Nigeria: Medical experts and government fight cholera

The Nigerian government has been battling a cholera outbreak in the West African country for some time.

As Nigerian authorities struggle to combat the recent spread of diarrheal disease in some parts of the country, medical experts have advised residents to practice proper hygiene when handling food and liquid substances.

Dr Adewale Adeleye said proper hand washing, use of safe water and food preparation are ways to prevent the spread of cholera.

Adeleye advised citizens to take all proactive measures and health advice issued by the authorities as the disease is communicable.

“The cause of this cholera is usually contamination of food substances or water with vibrio cholerae bacteria, safe water is one of the measures, environmental and hand hygiene are some of the preventive measures Nigerians should take,” Adeleye said.

He adds that "the safe handling of our food and its preparation is another important factor."

The doctor said that while vaccines can be used for those at risk, they cannot currently be used on a large scale, as in the case of polio.

“These vaccines are usually targeted at a particular group of people, those who are at risk. So your doctor will determine whether you should get vaccinated because you are at high risk. So it is not advisable to do mass vaccination, especially if there is a cholera outbreak .” Adeleye added: “If you take it within two or three years of (the vaccine), the immunity will wear off. It is not something that you take, at least you need a booster dose actually. I think you get two doses, a few weeks or months apart, so within two or three years, the immunity wears off. It is not advisable to do mass vaccination . ”

In Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, officials say their work is paying off.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, advised residents to continue with their normal activities.

He urged residents to support the government's efforts by adhering to hygiene practices , including drinking safe water, cooking food carefully, maintaining personal hygiene and washing hands regularly, among other measures.

“The situation is well under control, and I want citizens or residents of Lagos to be assured that the government is doing everything within its power to ensure that this does not become a problem. You can relax and have confidence in us, we have the situation under control and you need not panic, continue to go about your business as usual, but adhere to the recommendations and safety advice we have given you,” Prof. Abayomi advised residents.

Jide Idris, who heads the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, says the Nigerian government is working to ensure that cholera does not impact the health of citizens.

“Since June 2024 when we alerted the public, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, has been actively responding to the cholera outbreak, which has had a significant impact on the health and well-being of our country,” Dr. Idris said.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the country has recorded more than 3,600 suspected cholera cases and 103 deaths as of July 15, representing a case fatality rate of 2.8 percent.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is a potentially fatal disease, primarily transmitted by water.

The bacteria is transmitted mainly by the fecal-oral route, through the ingestion of contaminated water or food. Cholera transmission is linked to insufficient access to drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Those affected by this virus are typically rural dwellers who rely on surface water or unsafe water sources, whether piped or wells, people who consume potentially contaminated food or fruits without washing and cooking them properly, and people who do not practice good hand hygiene at all times.