Cholera: Children worst hit as 5,260 cases, 67 deaths recorded

Children under the age of five remain the most affected group in Nigeria’s worsening cholera outbreak, which has infected 5,260 people and claimed 67 lives across 128 local government areas in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This was according to the latest data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, exclusively made available to our correspondent in Abuja. The NCDC data, covering the period up to May 31, 2026, showed that “suspected cholera cases have risen by 73 per cent compared to the same period in 2025, highlighting a significant escalation of the outbreak despite improvements in treatment outcomes.” In Epidemiological Week 22 alone, the country recorded 1,264 new suspected cases and 13 deaths, representing an 11 per cent increase in infections compared to the previous week. However, while infections are climbing, fatalities have declined. “Despite the rise in cases, cumulative deaths have fallen by 37 per cent compared to 2025, reflecting stronger case management nationally,” the NCDC stated in its outbreak assessment. The figures translate to a national case fatality rate of 1.3 per cent. According to the NCDC, “children younger than five years remain the most affected age group nationwide, followed by children aged between five and 14 years.” The data by the NCDC suggest that the outbreak is disproportionately affecting young children, a trend public health experts often attribute to poor access to safe drinking water, weak sanitation systems and children’s increased vulnerability to severe dehydration caused by cholera. The outbreak is affecting males and females almost equally, with 51 per cent of cases occurring among males and 49 per cent among females. The latest figures have raised concerns among health authorities as the country enters the peak rainy season, when flooding and contamination of water sources typically increase the risk of cholera transmission. The NCDC said cholera cases have now been reported in “128 local government areas across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, underscoring the nationwide reach of the outbreak.” Although infections have been reported across most areas in the country, the outbreak is being driven overwhelmingly by a major surge in Borno State. Analysis of the NCDC data showed that Borno alone accounted for 4,510 of Nigeria’s 5,260 suspected cases, representing 86 per cent of the entire national caseload. Even more striking is the concentration of cases in Maiduguri, the state capital. According to the agency, Maiduguri Local Government Area alone has recorded 2