What is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The common indications are vomitting and stooling.
Cholera can cause severe diarrhoea, and different levels of dehydration, and can kill within hours if left untreated. Apart from diarrhoea and dehydration, other symptoms include nausea/vomiting, low blood pressure, rapid weight loss, and muscle cramps.
Every year, an estimated 1.3 to 4 million people worldwide get cholera, and between 21,000 to 143,000 people die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A statement signed by the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, says that “from the 1st of January to the 11th of June 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera with 30 deaths have been reported from 96 LGAs in 30 states”.
He stated that 10 states contributing 90 percent to the burden of cholera include; Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos States.
Unfortunately, we tend to focus on treatment of patients rather than preventive measures which will prevent environmental contamination of our food and water.
Who is at Risk?
People living in places with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene are at the highest risk of cholera, as it spreads through direct transmission by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
Prevention
Overall, cholera can be prevented through ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water; proper sanitation and waste disposal; and appropriate hygiene including handwashing.
To reduce the risk of cholera, the National Centre for Disease Control,NCDC, has advised the public to “ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking, practice good personal hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap under clean running water”.
“Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is essential if soap and clean water are not available. In addition, we must ensure that food is well cooked before consumption.
In view of their low level of awareness, it is often alarming that raw foods such as fruits and vegetables, are washed in stagnant waters. Therefore, the consumer must be well informed to take such foods only after soaking and washing thoroughly with safe potable water.
NCDC has also advised against open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping, urging residents to ensure proper waste disposal and frequent clearing of sewage.
In addition, it also advised health workers to always practice standard safety precautions, which include wearing gloves while handling patients or providing care to an ill patient/relative.
As part of its advocacy efforts, the Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative, CAFSANI, has also recently developed a consumer pocket guide for food safety and nutrition initiative. The pocket guide, currently in English language, is to be translated into the major Nigerian languages as part of efforts to inform, educate, and promote the consumption of only safe foods and water in the country.
BEING INFORMED IS THE FIRST STEP TO STAYING PROTECTED!