SIMPLE CHOLERA OUTBREAK AND PREVENTION.
Cholera is a disease of equity. It occurs or thrives where infrastructure is weak. In early 2026, cholera is back. The national strategic plan of action on cholera control (NSPACC) 2025 – 2029 is been set into motion with the goal , reducing cholera death by 90% by 2030.
Cholera is not just stomach bug , is a direct reflection of our progress as a nation on good health and ,clean water and sanitation. Cholera is an infection of the small intestine caused by a bacterium called voibro cholereae. This is due to consumption of contaminated food and water Vibro cholera is also called the blue death. Why because it turns a person’s skin bluish gray tint from extreme dehydration.
METHOD OF TRANSMISSION.
Vibro cholera enters the body though the mouth. How?
- Through fecal route:
This means the bacteria are shed in our feces ( shit) of an infected person or individual and enters the next person’s body through contaminated food and water with infected feces contain the bacteria ( vibro cholerae ).
- Practical example,
A person uses a latrine or bush ( open defecation ) and is already carrying the cholera germs. They do not wash their hands with soap and enough water, later they use the use the same hands to eat food. The microscopic germs on the fingers move directly from their hands onto the food or drinking water and finally to their mouth. They have successfully re-infected the whole family or passed it to their family.
- Practical example 2;
In a many Nigeria homes we fetch water from a borehole or tanker and store it in a large drum or bucket. someone most dips a small plastic bowl or cup into the drum. If their hands are dirty, infected with germs. The germs moves from their fingers into the entire drums of water. Even if the water was clean when the tanker or individuals brought it, it is now self-infected because of how it was handled at home.
- Lastly,
A case of a village uses a local stream for everything, when the upstream (higher ground ), someone washes soiled clothes from his or her sick relative or defecates near the banks. Rain washes those germs into the water.
At the downstream (lower ground ), another person arrives to fetch water for cooking or to wash their fruits with the contaminated water.
IMPACTS AND SYMTOMPS / SIGHNS OF CHOLERA.
Cholera causes painless but massive (plenty) watery diarrhea (stool) often looking like rice water. Without treatments, a person can loose liters of fluid or water in hours, leading to severe dehydration and death.
Causes nausea and vomiting. This occurs in the early stages. And severe leg cramps. These are caused by the rapid loss of salts ( electrolytes ) like sodium , chloride , and potassium from the body. Because the body is loosing liters of fluids or water it begins to shut down , the eyes sunken , the skin tent ( if you pinch the skin on the stomach it stays up like a tent and does not snap back quickly.
Cholera causes extreme thirst, low blood pressure , reduced reduce urination. When chronic leads to rapid heart rate ( the heart struggles to pump what little blood left , draining the skin (blood is leaving the skin to try and protect the brain and heart ( this cause the skin to dry due to lack of blood).Cholera Causes lethargy and unconsciousness.
Finally but not the least cholera causes Blue Tint ( cyanosis ) the skin especially around the mouth turns a bluish grey color due to extreme lost of fluid or fluid lost.
Most people ( about 80% ) infected with cholera do not develop symptoms , but the bacteria stay in their feces for 1-10 days. This means they can still self-infect their community even if they do not feel sick.
According to the NCDC and WHO shows that the outbreaks are trending due to three main factor;
- Climate shift; unpredictable flooding in 2025 / 2026 has washed sewage in open water sources in many Nigerian states.
- Infrastructure gaps; urban migration has outpaced the development of clean water pipes and toilets.
- Regional inequity; outbreaks are often concentrated in hotspots. In local government areas where access to basic hygiene is lowest.
PREVENTION.
When we provide pipe borne water and end open defecation , we kill the highway the bacteria travels.
- Drink and use safe water, boil it or use chlorine tablets ( aquatabs )
- Wash your hands frequently
- Use soaps and running water, hand sanitizer is good , but soap and water are gold standard for killing the cholera germ.
- Use toilets ( avoid open defecation )
- Ensure feces (shit) are buried or flushed. Keep away from where people live and walk.
- Cook it, peel it, or leave it.
- Only eat food that is steaming hot. Avoid raw vegetables. You do not wash by yourself with safe water.
Vaccination.
Seek oral cholera vaccine (OCV). If you are living in a high risk area, It is two drops that can protect for up to three years.
- The miracle of salt and sugar
The primary cause of death in cholera is dehydration. The solution is ORS ( oral dehydration salt s).
If ORS is not available immediately, a home made version is made. 6 level of tea spoon of sugar and ½ level tea spoon of salt dissolved in 1 liter of clean water.
Let move from reacting to building a nation where cholera has no place to hide.
Cholera is currently trending , but we can stop it before it reduces our homes.
Compelled by Adogo Chwanuh.
References;
Global Health & Biological Context (SDG 3)World Health Organization (WHO). (2024). Cholera: Key Facts. [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cholera](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cholera
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).(2026). Annual Epidemiological Report on Cholera.
Real-time 2025–2026 data on hotspots like Zamfara, Lagos, and Cross River.
Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria. (2025). National Strategic Plan of Action on Cholera Control (NSPACC) 2025–2029.
Use this for: The specific roadmap Nigeria is currently following to eliminate the disease.
UNICEF.(2025). WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and the Prevention of Water-borne Diseases in West Africa.
NCDC (2026).Cholera Situation Report: Strengthening Surveillance and Response in Nigeria. Abuja: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
United Nations (2015).Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Sustainable Development Goals.
