Cholera outbreak in Nigeria hits young children hardest
Children under five are the most affected by Nigeria’s escalating cholera outbreak, with 5,260 suspected cases and 67 deaths reported across the country. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the majority of cases are concentrated in Borno State, particularly in Maiduguri. The outbreak has been linked to poor water and sanitation infrastructure, especially in densely populated communities. Health authorities are ramping up response efforts as the rainy season increases the risk of further transmission.
Highlights
- The NCDC reported that as of May 31, 2026, there were 5,260 suspected cholera cases and 67 deaths across 128 local government areas in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
- Children under five are the most affected, followed by those aged five to 14, with infections rising by 73 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.
- Borno State accounts for 4,510 cases (86 per cent of the national total), with Maiduguri Local Government Area alone reporting 2,706 cases.
- Environmental assessments in Borno found contaminated water sources, blocked drainage, and widespread open defecation, with undetectable levels of free residual chlorine in all water sources tested.
- On May 15, the NCDC deployed additional emergency response supplies to Borno, and as of May 25, response teams had disinfected 1,148 households and reached 2,915 individuals with hygiene promotion messages.
