CAPE TOWN - Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are increasing epidemiological surveillance in Nigeria in response to the ongoing cholera epidemic declared on August 9 by the Nigerian Ministry of Public Health.
So far it has led to 4 283 infections across six of the country’s eight regions and 144 deaths.
Although the number of cases is decreasing in some regions, more resources are needed to break the transmission chain of the disease in places where epidemic clusters remain active, MSF said.
“We are currently facing a large-scale epidemic. The risk of the disease spreading is increased because of a lack of drinking water and poor sanitation, particularly now that we are in the rainy season,” MSF emergency co-ordinator in Zinder, a region in southern Niger, Souleymane Ba said.
MSF started their emergency response in mid-July in Zinder, after the first cholera cases were reported in Magaria hospital. The quick spread of cholera clusters throughout the country motivated MSF to scale up support in the Tahoua, Niamey and Maradi regions. Maradi is currently the worst affected region, with 2 381 reported cholera cases.
The pools of stagnant water left by last year’s floods and this year’s heavy rains proved to be the ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed.
This has contributed to a vicious circle of disease. The number of patients with malaria in Niger increased 42% from January to August 2020 to the same period this year. This is one of the comorbidities that affect patients treated for cholera.
“Cholera spreads through skin, water and food contaminated by the stools of infected people. That is why our teams continue to disinfect water points and houses in areas affected by the epidemic.
“Although the disease can be prevented with investment in water and sanitation systems, up to 140 000 people die of it every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
"The aim of our intervention is to reduce the number of cases and deaths linked to this epidemic,” explains Ba. “We are cutting the transmission chain through early detection of people who may have contracted cholera, the isolation and medical care of patients, and awareness-raising among communities regarding surveillance and preventive measures, such as washing hands and food.”
MSF said they had set up 15 cholera treatment centres and units in the four regions, installed oral rehydration points in villages, and supported several local health authorities with logistics and medical supplies. So far, MSF teams have cared for more than 1 770 patients.
Cape Times