More than 10,000 people have been infected with cholera in a major outbreak centred on Nigeria’s conflict-hit northeastern Borno state.
At least 46 people have died in medical facilities run by Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, since the outbreak began early last month.
The medical charity has been working with the Borno State Ministry of Health to respond to the outbreak and has set up a cholera treatment centre in the state capital, Maiduguri, where clinics are struggling to cope with the rise in cases.
The outbreak is placing further pressure on an already fragile healthcare system in a region affected by years of armed conflict, mass displacement and poor water and sanitation infrastructure.
Most of the cases have been reported in Maiduguri, which is home to around two million people, including many who have been displaced by the long-running Boko Haram insurgency.
Cholera is a waterborne disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
The infection affects the intestines and can cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to rapid dehydration. Without urgent treatment, cholera can become fatal within hours.
The disease is treatable through oral rehydration solutions and, in severe cases, intravenous fluids to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
Health officials and humanitarian workers have warned that the disease can spread quickly in overcrowded areas with limited access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation.
Borno has endured years of insecurity, displacement and humanitarian crisis due to the 17-year insurgency by Boko Haram and other armed groups operating in the region.
