Nigeria cholera outbreak intensifies as deaths climb

A fast-growing cholera outbreak in northeastern Nigeria has claimed at least 90 lives and infected more than 12,000 people, prompting the United Nations to scale up emergency support as concerns grow over the resilience of local healthcare services in conflict-affected areas.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the outbreak, which began in early May, has spread rapidly across Borno State, where years of conflict and displacement have weakened public health infrastructure. The latest figures mark a sharp increase from the 74 deaths and approximately 7,800 reported infections recorded earlier this month.

OCHA said humanitarian agencies were expanding cholera treatment facilities, disease surveillance programmes, and access to safe drinking water to support the Nigerian authorities’ response. The UN has also allocated US$4 million from its emergency funds, although officials warned that significantly more resources were needed to strengthen prevention measures and sustain treatment efforts.

Borno State has faced almost two decades of insecurity linked to the Boko Haram insurgency, leaving many communities with inadequate sanitation, overcrowded displacement camps, and limited access to healthcare. These conditions have contributed to the rapid spread of waterborne diseases, particularly during the rainy season.

While Nigeria has not introduced nationwide travel restrictions, the escalating outbreak serves as a reminder for travel risk managers and insurers of the importance of pre-travel health advice, access to emergency medical assistance, and robust contingency planning for travellers and expatriate workers operating in higher-risk regions. Monitoring public health developments and ensuring adequate medical and evacuation cover remain key considerations for organisations with personnel travelling to affected areas.

In 2024, more than 1.2 million cholera rapid diagnostic tests were shipped to 14 countries, marking the largest global deployment of the tests to date.