Cholera outbreak has claimed no fewer than 23 lives with 530 suspected cases in Borno State, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, said on Thursday.


The UN agency added in a statement that a cholera outbreak was first reported by the state’s Ministry of Health on August 16.

OCHA said: “Over 530 suspected cases had been registered as of September 5, including 23 deaths (4.3 percent fatality rate).

"The outbreak is mainly in Muna Garage, a camp hosting at least 20,000 internally-displaced persons, IDPs, on the outskirts of the state capital, Maiduguri. Although most cases have been identified in Muna Garage camp, others have been identified in Custom House, Ruwan Zafi and Bolori II, all camps located near Muna Garage.

"There have also been reports of a suspected cholera outbreak in Monguno and Dikwa Local Government areas, North-East and East of Maiduguri, respectively.

"The latest figures suggested a 4.3 percent fatality rate—well above the one percent rate that the World Health Organisation, WHO, rates as an emergency. The short incubation period of two hours to five days means the disease can spread with explosive speed."