*Thousands Infected
A cholera outbreak that began in early May in Borno State has killed at least 74 people and infected more than 7,800, overwhelming health facilities, aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) disclosed today.
MSF said 7,850 suspected cases had been recorded across 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs) as of June 7, citing the state Ministry of Health, with infections rising sharply each day.
The outbreak is straining an already fragile healthcare system in a region at the heart of a 17-year Islamist insurgency, mass displacement and poor water and sanitation, raising the risk of wider spread if containment falters.
Cholera, a waterborne disease, thrives in areas lacking clean water and sanitation.
MSF, working with the Ministry, has set up a cholera treatment centre in Maiduguri, the State capital, to support the response.
“Every day, we see more people arriving with severe watery diarrhoea and dehydration, many of whom have travelled long distances to reach care,” said MSF Project Medical Coordinator, Bienfait Tombola, for the surge response in Maiduguri.
MSF said it had treated 7,439 patients, averaging about 230 admissions per day, with more than 500 cases recorded on 5 June alone, the highest number admitted in a single day since the response began.
Authorities are planning a vaccination campaign, MSF said, as the aid group continues to scale up treatment, hygiene and surveillance to contain the outbreak.
