Nigeria’s cholera outbreak has intensified, with 5,260 suspected cases and 67 deaths recorded across 33 states and the FCT, according to the latest data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The outbreak is hitting children under five years the hardest, making them the most affected age group nationwide, followed by children aged 5 to 14 years.
NCDC data shows infections have risen by 73% compared to the same period in 2025, with 1,264 new suspected cases and 13 deaths recorded in just one week. Despite the surge in infections, health authorities say improved treatment has helped reduce fatalities, with deaths dropping by 37% compared to last year.
The crisis is being driven largely by Borno State, which accounts for 4,510 cases — 86% of Nigeria’s total infections. Maiduguri alone has recorded 2,706 cases, representing more than half of all cholera infections reported nationwide this year.
Health officials linked the outbreak to contaminated water sources, poor sanitation, blocked drainage systems, damaged pipelines and widespread open defecation, warning that the rainy season could worsen the situation if urgent interventions are not sustained.
The NCDC has deployed emergency medical supplies, treatment kits, rapid response teams and vaccination campaigns, while state authorities and partners continue water chlorination, sanitation improvements and public awareness efforts in affected communities.
Experts have warned that unless access to clean water and proper sanitation improves significantly, cholera infections could continue to spread across vulnerable communities.
Source: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC)
