Cholera Outbreak in Borno: 74 Lives Lost, Over 7,800 Infected

A cholera outbreak has affected many people and put pressure on health facilities in Borno State. Since early May, there have been 74 deaths and 7,850 suspected cases in the state.

On 9 June, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, shared a statement. They said the outbreak has spread to 14 local government areas and 50 wards. These figures come from the Borno State Ministry of Health.

MSF reported that the number of patients needing urgent treatment has been rising since the first suspected case was found on 1 May.

Health Facilities Strained by Increasing Admissions

MSF partnered with the Borno State Ministry of Health to set up a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in Ngarannam, Maiduguri, on 7 May to help with the response.

The group noted that admissions quickly rose in the following weeks. This increase forced them to expand the facility’s bed capacity from 121 to 271.

They also opened a 20-bed Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) in the Dalaram area of Maiduguri to handle the rising number of patients.

As of 7 June, MSF reported treating 7,439 patients at both facilities, which averages about 230 admissions daily. On 5 June alone, more than 500 patients suffering from acute watery diarrhoea were admitted. This is the highest number of single-day admissions since the outbreak 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 and Water Access Crucial for Control

Besides treating patients, MSF said it is helping to train healthcare workers, set up oral rehydration points in affected areas, promote health awareness, strengthen disease surveillance and referral systems, and support water chlorination and sanitation projects.

However, the group warned that the outbreak's scale and speed are surpassing current response capabilities.

MSF explained that cholera and other water-borne diseases flourish in communities lacking clean water, sanitation facilities, hygiene infrastructure and healthcare services, especially in informal settlements.

Mr Tombola mentioned that a cholera vaccination campaign planned by the Ministry of Health could help reduce transmission. Still, he emphasized that long-term investments in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure are essential.

“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 confirmed it will keep supporting the Borno State Ministry of Health and other partners to control the outbreak and provide lifesaving care to affected communities.