Cholera in Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reports continued transmssion of cholera in the country.

From 1 January to 27 June 2021, there have been 14,343 suspected cases including 325 deaths reported from 16 Nigerian states: Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, CrossRiver, Niger, FCT and Nasarawa.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of faecally contaminated food or water, and occasionally foodstuffs such as shell fish.

Advice for Travellers

Severe cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.

All travellers should be given advice on:

• maintaining safe food and water precautions
• effective hand hygiene
• basic steps in self-treating diarrhoea, particularly remaining adequately hydrated

Vaccination against cholera is dependent on the individual risk assessment, but may be considered for:

• volunteers/humanitarian workers/medical personnel travelling to disaster relief situations where cholera outbreaks are likely
• travellers with remote itineraries in areas where cholera outbreaks are occurring and there is limited access to medical care

For further information see the TRAVAX Cholera page.