Last reviewed: October 16, 2026 | By Ugochukwu Dike
Nigeria has had a hard cholera year. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported more than 65,000 suspected cholera cases across 35 states and about 195 local government areas in 2026 [1][2]. The NCDC Director-General said weekly cases had fallen considerably from the earlier peak and that a smaller share of cases were ending in death than at the same point last year. He also warned that transmission can peak between late August and October, and that treatment alone cannot end an outbreak [2]. According to the same report, most of this year’s cases were in Borno State [2].
This article explains what cholera is, how to spot it, and what you can do to protect your family.
Read our guide to making water safe at home
What is cholera?
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae [3]. WHO describes it as a disease that can be fatal within hours if untreated, but also as easily treatable when care starts quickly [3].
Most people infected have no symptoms or mild ones, but they can still spread the bacteria in their faeces for 1 to 10 days. When symptoms appear, it is usually 12 hours to 5 days after infection [3].
In Nigeria, cholera is endemic and seasonal. NCDC has described it as occurring every year, mostly during the rainy season and more often in areas with poor sanitation [4].
Symptoms to watch for
Severe cholera causes sudden, profuse watery diarrhoea that can lead to life-threatening dehydration [3]. Signs of dehydration include:
- extreme thirst and a dry mouth,
- sunken eyes,
- very little urine,
- weakness, dizziness or unusual sleepiness.
Children, older adults and people who are already ill can deteriorate fastest.
What to do if you suspect cholera
- Start oral rehydration salts (ORS) immediately and keep giving small, frequent sips, including on the way to the health facility. WHO says most people with cholera can be treated successfully with prompt ORS [3].
- Go to a health facility without delay. Severely dehydrated patients need rapid intravenous fluids, ORS and antibiotics [3]. WHO says the death rate in treatment centres should stay below 1% when care is prompt [3].
- Do not self-treat with antibiotics. WHO does not recommend mass antibiotic use to prevent cholera, because it has no proven effect on spread and may contribute to antimicrobial resistance [3].
- Tell your local health authorities. Reporting suspected cases helps contain outbreaks.
- Protect the people caring for the patient. Wash hands with soap after contact, and clean contaminated surfaces and clothing.
How to prevent cholera
WHO stresses that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is essential to prevent cholera [3].
- Safe water. Boil or properly treat drinking water, and store it in clean, covered containers. Read our guide to making water safe at home.
- Handwashing. Wash with soap and safe water before preparing or eating food, after using the toilet and after cleaning a child.
- Food safety. Cook food thoroughly, eat it while it is hot, and wash fruit and vegetables with safe water.
- Sanitation. Use latrines or toilets, and dispose of children’s faeces safely. Keep waste away from wells and boreholes.
- Funerals. WHO notes that funeral practices for people who die of cholera may need to be adapted to prevent infection among those attending [3].
- Vaccination. Oral cholera vaccines can help prevent and control outbreaks, but they work alongside, not instead of, clean water and hygiene [3].
Why floods and cholera go together
WHO links cholera outbreaks to limited access to safe water and sanitation, which can be caused by climate events such as floods [3]. When floodwater mixes with sewage and reaches wells and boreholes, bacteria spread quickly. After any flood, treat all water as unsafe until it is boiled or treated.
The global picture
Cholera is not only a Nigerian problem. WHO reports that in 2025, 47 countries reported 451,499 cases and 7,870 deaths. The number of deaths was the highest since 1999 [3]. WHO says researchers estimate the real burden is higher than the reported numbers [3].
Conclusion
Cholera spreads through water and food, so the most powerful tools are ordinary ones: safe water, soap, safe toilets and quick rehydration. If you or someone near you develops severe watery diarrhoea, do not wait. Start ORS and get to a health facility.
This article gives general health information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For up-to-date outbreak figures, check the NCDC website.
About the author: Ugochukwu Dike holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Anatomy from the University of Calabar and is studying B.Sc. Environmental Health Science at the National Open University of Nigeria.
References
- News Agency of Nigeria. “NCDC: Nigeria records 65,000 suspected cholera cases.” 28 August 2026. https://nannews.ng/tag/65000/
- Leadership. “Cholera Cases Hit 65,000, Diphtheria Exceeds 10,000 In 2026 – NCDC.” https://leadership.ng/?p=686197
- World Health Organization. Cholera fact sheet (updated 29 September 2026). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cholera
- Gazette. “79 died from 1,336 cases of cholera: NCDC” (NCDC statement on seasonality). https://gazettengr.com/79-died-from-1336-cases-of-cholera-ncdc/
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.ncdc.gov.ng
Interesting
ReplyDelete