NCDC raises the alarm over politicisation of cholera outbreak

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has raised concerns over what it described as the politicisation of cholera in some parts of the country. In a situation report obtained by Saturday PUNCH, the agency listed “politicisation of cholera” among the challenges encountered in efforts to contain the disease. This came as the NCDC disclosed that it had deployed emergency response teams to cholera-affected states as part of measures to curb the ongoing outbreak. The report detailed ongoing surveillance, laboratory, case management, water sanitation and risk communication interventions being implemented nationwide. Highlighting the challenges, the NCDC identified politicisation, delayed diagnosis, shortages of critical supplies and weaknesses in surveillance, among other factors, as issues shaping the trajectory of the outbreak. Although the report did not provide details of specific incidents, public health experts have repeatedly warned that political interference and misinformation can undermine disease surveillance, weaken public trust and delay coordinated outbreak response efforts. According to the report, active case search operations are ongoing across affected states, while technical support is being provided to state response teams. “Active case search ongoing in all affected states; remote and on-site support to state teams; SORMAS data validation and harmonisation; active case search team deployed to Kano,” the NCDC stated. The agency said surveillance officers were also conducting data validation and harmonisation through the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System to improve outbreak tracking and response coordination. Laboratory testing is being supported through the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja and the Central Public Health Laboratory in Lagos, while healthcare workers have received training on sample management, rapid diagnostic testing and culture procedures. The report noted that authorities were also following up on the shipment of samples from Maiduguri to the National Reference Laboratory to strengthen case confirmation efforts. To improve treatment outcomes, the NCDC said healthcare workers across several states had undergone training in cholera case management, infection prevention and control. It added that infection prevention handbooks had been distributed to health facilities, standard operating procedures developed and needs assessments conducted to strengthen response capacity. The report further disclosed that specialised training had been conducted for Cholera Treatment Unit teams