Nigeria Among Countries Worst Hit by Cholera as Global Deaths Rise 30%
Reported By Facthabournews
Nigeria was among the countries that recorded the highest number of reported cholera cases in 2025, with 24,354 cases and 548 deaths, according to the latest report from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The figures come as the WHO reports a significant increase in cholera-related deaths worldwide. Globally, 7,870 deaths were reported from cholera in 2025, representing a 30.6 per cent increase compared with the 6,028 deaths recorded in 2024.
The increase occurred despite a decline in the total number of reported cases. According to the WHO, 47 countries, territories and areas reported 451,499 cholera cases in 2025, compared with 560,823 cases reported by 60 countries in 2024.
The global figures mean reported cholera cases fell by 19.5 per cent, while reported deaths moved in the opposite direction. The WHO said the 2025 death toll was the highest annual number reported to the organisation since 1999.
Nigeria was one of seven countries that recorded more than 10,000 cholera cases during the year. The others were Yemen, South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Bangladesh.
Together, the seven countries accounted for about 89 per cent of all reported cholera cases and 91 per cent of reported deaths worldwide in 2025. Nigeria’s 24,354 reported cases placed it among the countries with the largest absolute number of infections recorded during the year.
However, the WHO cautioned that reported figures should not be treated as a complete measurement of the actual global burden of cholera. Differences in surveillance systems, laboratory testing, case definitions and death reporting can affect comparisons between countries.
For Nigeria, the WHO recorded 548 deaths in 2025. Of these, 130 were reported to have occurred in health facilities, while information on the location of the remaining deaths was not available in the WHO’s table.
The situation in Africa was particularly concerning. Countries in the WHO African Region reported 245,501 cholera cases and 5,338 deaths during 2025. The region therefore accounted for 54 per cent of reported cases and 68 per cent of reported deaths globally.
Compared with the previous year, reported cholera cases in the African Region increased by 34 per cent, while deaths increased by 58 per cent. Nigeria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola accounted for most of the cases reported in the region.
The WHO report also shows a connection between cholera outbreaks and difficult social and humanitarian conditions. Five of the seven countries with more than 10,000 reported cases in 2025 — including Nigeria — were classified by the World Bank as conflict-affected countries during the year. All seven also experienced conflict- or disaster-related internal displacement.
Cholera is an infectious disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. It can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration and may become life-threatening if treatment is delayed.
The disease can, however, be prevented and treated. Access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, proper hygiene and prompt medical attention remain important measures for reducing infections and deaths.
The WHO noted that timely treatment can significantly reduce the risk of death. It said the case fatality rate in properly managed cholera treatment facilities should remain below one per cent. The global facility-based case fatality rate in 2025 was 0.9 per cent among the countries for which the figure could be calculated.
The organisation also highlighted the significance of deaths occurring outside health facilities. Such deaths can indicate that patients are reaching healthcare services too late or that communities lack access to early treatment.
For Nigeria, the latest figures therefore extend beyond the number of people who contracted the disease. They also raise questions about access to healthcare, safe water and sanitation, disease surveillance and the ability of communities to recognise symptoms and seek treatment quickly.
The WHO’s figures further show that the burden of cholera is not evenly distributed around the world. While some countries recorded relatively small numbers of cases, a limited number of countries accounted for the overwhelming majority of reported infections and deaths.
The report said seven countries were responsible for approximately nine out of every ten reported cholera cases and deaths globally in 2025. This concentration means that targeted interventions in heavily affected countries could play an important role in reducing the global impact of the disease.
The global situation also demonstrates why cholera control cannot depend entirely on emergency medical treatment after outbreaks begin. Improvements in water supply, sanitation and hygiene are central to preventing transmission in the first place.
The WHO’s global strategy, known as the Ending Cholera: A Global Roadmap to 2030, seeks to eliminate cholera transmission in as many as 20 countries and reduce cholera deaths by 90 per cent.
The latest figures indicate that achieving those targets will require sustained investment in prevention, surveillance, vaccination where appropriate, early detection and treatment.
The WHO stressed that oral cholera vaccines can complement other control measures, but vaccination does not replace the need for safe water, sanitation, hygiene, effective surveillance and quality healthcare.
For Nigeria, the 2025 figures provide another indication of the continuing public-health challenge posed by cholera. With more than 24,000 reported cases and 548 deaths in one year, the country remains among those carrying a substantial share of the global reported burden.
At the same time, the WHO’s caution about surveillance and reporting means the figures should be interpreted carefully. They represent cases and deaths reported through national surveillance systems rather than an estimate of every cholera infection or death that occurred.
The rise in global deaths despite a decline in reported cases also highlights the importance of preventing severe illness and ensuring that infected people receive appropriate treatment without delay.
As countries work towards the WHO’s 2030 cholera targets, strengthening basic public-health infrastructure will remain an important part of the response. For communities in Nigeria and other affected countries, reliable access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene facilities and timely healthcare can make a significant difference in reducing the impact of future outbreaks.
The latest WHO report therefore presents a mixed picture: fewer cholera cases were reported globally in 2025, but deaths increased sharply. Nigeria’s position among the countries with more than 10,000 reported cases shows that cholera remains an important public-health issue requiring continued attention.
