By Blessing Oghene
For many Nigerians, vomiting, frequent stooling or stomach discomfort may seem like ordinary illnesses that can be managed at home. But sudden severe watery diarrhea and vomiting could signal cholera, a potentially fatal disease that can kill within hours if treatment is delayed.
Cholera remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, particularly in communities with limited access to safe water, proper sanitation and good hygiene.
The disease is mainly transmitted through food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera.
According to a UNICEF Nigeria report, as of April 20, 2025, the country had recorded 1,307 suspected cholera cases and 34 deaths across 30 states and 98 Local Government Areas, LGAs, with a case fatality rate, CFR, of 2.6 per cent — well above the national target of less than one per cent.
Earlier, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, reported that by epidemiological week nine of 2025, Nigeria had recorded 1,149 suspected cases and 28 deaths across 25 states and 66 LGAs, with a CFR of 2.4 per cent.
The danger of cholera lies in how rapidly it can cause severe dehydration. Profuse diarrhea and vomiting can lead to rapid loss of water and essential salts, with the World Health Organisation, WHO, warning that untreated cholera can become fatal within hours.
The risk is higher in crowded communities where safe water is scarce and sanitation facilities are inadequate. Contaminated water sources, poor waste disposal and open defecation can all facilitate transmission.
Public health expert at the University of Ilorin and former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Prof. Tanimola Akande, said poor environmental hygiene and improper waste disposal could heighten the risk of cholera outbreaks, particularly during the rainy season.
He explained that heavy rainfall could wash fecal matter into water sources, contaminating drinking water and increasing the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Prevention, experts say, starts with access to safe water and basic hygiene.
The NCDC advises Nigerians to boil drinking water and store it in clean, covered containers. It also recommends regular handwashing with soap and clean running water, proper cooking of food, avoiding open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
Anyone who develops sudden watery diarrhea should seek medical attention immediately rather than wait for symptoms to worsen or rely solely on home remedies.
Delayed treatment is particularly dangerous because severe dehydration can develop rapidly. Some patients may resort to self-medication or assume the illness will resolve on its own, only to arrive at health facilities when their condition has become critical.
Early treatment significantly improves the chances of recovery. Oral rehydration solution, ORS, helps replace fluids and salts lost through diarrhea and vomiting, while patients with severe dehydration may require intravenous fluids and, where clinically indicated, antibiotics.
But preventing cholera cannot be left to individuals alone. Government agencies, health authorities and communities must work together to ensure reliable access to safe water, improved sanitation, effective waste management, disease surveillance and public education.
WHO identifies safe water, basic sanitation and good hygiene as critical measures for controlling cholera transmission. Vaccination can also support outbreak prevention and control, particularly in high-risk communities.
Community education remains crucial. People need to understand how cholera spreads, recognise its symptoms and know the importance of seeking prompt treatment.
Health messages must therefore reach beyond hospitals and schools to markets, neighbourhood, religious centers and other places where people gather.
Cholera is preventable, but sustained action is required. Protecting water sources, improving sanitation, managing waste responsibly, practicing good hygiene and seeking immediate care when severe symptoms occur can save lives.
For Nigeria, the fight against cholera is ultimately a fight for safer water, better sanitation, stronger public health systems and greater community awareness.
