Cholera deaths rise to nearly 90 in Niger

DOUALA, Cameroon

Niger reported 14 new deaths from cholera from Aug. 26-30 out of more than 2,600 cases since March.

A total of 2,641 cases have been detected “as of August 30, 2021," including 88 deaths for a case-fatality rate of 3%, according to the national directorate of surveillance and response to epidemics, said media reports.

Among the six regions in the country, cases detected include 1,348 female patients with 39 deaths and 1,163 males with 45 deaths, according to the Nigerian Press Agency. The country has eight regions.

The figures mark a clear increase from July 14 to Aug. 29.

A report by the epidemiological surveillance directorate that was viewed by Anadolu Agency indicates that during that time, 2,348 cases were recorded with 75 resulting in deaths.

But "the situation is under control,” Abu Yahaya, the regional director of health, according to media reports last week.

He said prevention, management and awareness measures have been implemented by the local authorities, including providing health tools to populations, awareness on hygiene measures, disinfection of places of isolation and the opening of cholera treatment units.

Minister of Public Health Idi Illiassou Mainassara reassured in a recent interview with the international press, that Niger has experience in managing the disease. The last outbreak was in 2018.