(Lagos) Nigerian authorities have been warning Nigerians for several days against a cholera epidemic which has killed 30 people since the start of the year and which is getting worse with the start of the rainy season.
“1,141 suspected cases of cholera, 65 proven cases and 30 deaths” were recorded in 30 states of the country (out of a total of 36, editor’s note) between January 1 and June 11, indicated the Nigerian Center for Control and Prevention. Prevention of Diseases (NCDC) in a press release.
The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria is plagued by regular cholera epidemics. The disease, which spreads very quickly, is mainly caught through contaminated water or food and causes diarrhea and intense vomiting.
The epidemic has spread to Lagos, the sprawling economic capital of the country with more than 20 million inhabitants.
On Tuesday, the Lagos Water Corporation, the state agency responsible for access to drinking water, explained that it had “taken measures”, including “water quality control” throughout the area. ‘State.
She encouraged Lagosians to bring water samples from their homes for testing.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, 15 cholera-related deaths have been recorded in the state.
“We advise residents to drink clean water, cook food thoroughly, wash hands regularly, use sanitizer and avoid crowds,” he said in a statement released last Saturday.
Medical care for infected people will be free in Lagos State, he also assured.
In 2021, cholera caused more than 2,300 deaths, particularly among children aged five to 14, according to the country’s health authorities.
According to the NCDC, the disease caused only 2 deaths in 2022, before experiencing a rebound in 2023 with 128 deaths.
