21st September, 2021
The cholera outbreak in Nigeria has killed 2,404 people this year, more than the fatalities from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its latest report, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said the cholera death toll is the cumulative from January.
In contrast the COVID-19 pandemic killed 2,661 since last year February.
In a statement, the NCDC said 23 new cholera deaths were linked to the outbreak across the country between September 6 and 12.
Within the stated period, the country recorded 1,182 suspected new cases of cholera, said the NCDC.
The public health agency said a total of 72,910 suspected cases of cholera infection have now been recorded in 27 states and the federal capital territory since the onset of the outbreak.
It added that a national multi-sectoral emergency system continues to coordinate the national response.
Cholera is a highly virulent disease characterized in its most severe form by a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhea that can lead to death by severe dehydration.