United Nations: Cholera Death Toll in Lake Chad now at 500

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More than 500 people have died from cholera in the Lake Chad region since the start of the year, representing the worst outbreak to hit the area in four years, the UN said on Wednesday.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, was the worst-hit with 24,000 cases and said the immediate action was needed to stem the disease.

the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says “The region is facing floods and heavy rains, creating an ideal environment for the outbreak to spread.”

 

The Lake Chad region straddles parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, which are also grappling with a jihadist insurgency

Cholera is caused by a bacterium transmitted through contaminated food or drinking water. It causes acute diarrhoea, with children particularly at risk.