Cholera Outbreak: 74 dead, over 7,800 cases strain Borno facilities

A cholera outbreak has infected thousands of people and placed growing pressure on health facilities in Borno State, with 74 deaths and 7,850 suspected cases recorded in the state since early May.

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In a statement issued on 9 June, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, said the outbreak had spread across 14 local government areas and 50 wards, citing figures from the Borno State Ministry of Health.

According to the organisation, the number of patients requiring urgent treatment has been rising since the first suspected case was reported on 1 May.

Health facilities stretched by rising admissions

MSF said it partnered with the Borno State Ministry of Health to establish a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in the Ngarannam area of Maiduguri on 7 May to support the response.

Patients with suspected cholera receiving initial sstabilisationin the triage of the cholera treatment centre run by MSF in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health in Ngarannam, in Maiduguri, Borno state (CREDIT: Merel van de Geyn/MSF)

The organisation said admissions increased rapidly in the weeks that followed, forcing an expansion of the facility’s bed capacity from 121 to 271.

It added that a separate 20-bed Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) had been opened in the Dalaram area of the state capital to accommodate the growing number of patients.

As of 7 June, MSF said it had treated 7,439 patients at the two facilities, averaging about 230 admissions per day.

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A wide shot of patients with suspected cholera receiving treatment at the cholera treatment unit run by MSF in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health in Dalaram, in Maiduguri, Borno state (CREDIT: Merel van de Geyn/MSF

The organisation added that more than 500 patients suffering from acute watery diarrhoea were admitted on 5 June alone, the highest single-day admission figure recorded since the response began.

“Every day, we see more people arriving with severe watery diarrhoea and dehydration, many of whom have travelled long distances to reach care,” said Bienfait Tombola, MSF’s project medical coordinator for the emergency response in Maiduguri.

“The collaboration between the Ministry of Health, MSF and other partners has enabled a rapid scale-up of several aspects of the response, but the continued increase in cases shows that more needs to be done to prevent transmission and ensure people can access care as early as possible,” he said.

Vaccination, water access key to containment

Beyond treating patients, MSF said it is supporting healthcare worker training, establishing oral rehydration points in affected communities, conducting health promotion activities, strengthening disease surveillance and referral systems, and supporting water chlorination and sanitation interventions.

MSF infection prevention and control manager James Moriea standing at the entrance of the wards of the cholera treatment centre run by MSF in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health in Ngarannam, in Maiduguri, Borno state. ©Merel van de Geyn/MSF — MSF infection prevention and control manager James Moriea standing at the entrance of the wards of the cholera treatment centre run by MSF in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health in Ngarannam, in Maiduguri, Borno state (CREDIT: Merel van de Geyn/MSF

However, the organisation warned that the scale and speed of the outbreak continue to exceed current response capacity.

MSF noted that cholera and other water-borne diseases thrive in communities with inadequate access to clean water, sanitation facilities, hygiene infrastructure and healthcare services, particularly in informal settlements.

READ ALSO: Cholera kills 37 in Borno, endangers 3,000 lives

Mr Tombola said a cholera vaccination campaign planned by the Ministry of Health could help reduce transmission. Still, it stressed that long-term investments in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure remain critical.

“While treatment is essential to save lives, a cholera vaccination is foreseen to be conducted by the Ministry of Health, and this would help cut the chains of transmission,” he said.

“Sustainable improvements in access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene are equally critical to reducing transmission and preventing risks of a continued surge in cases of waterborne diseases.”

MSF said it would continue supporting the Borno State Ministry of Health and other partners in efforts to contain the outbreak and provide lifesaving care to affected communities.