Nigeria, Algeria struggle with cholera outbreak

Southern Algeria and northern Nigeria continue to struggle to contain a cholera outbreak amid floods and insecurity.

In Algeria’s south, cholera and diphtheria spread among a late reaction from health authorities leading to over 23 deaths.

Videos shared on social media showed congested hospitals in the impoverished Algerian south with patients lying on the ground waiting for help.

In Nigeria, floods displaced nearly 2 million people in Borno state complicating efforts to contain the spread of the disease.

Borno Health Commissioner Baba Mallam Gana told reporters that 17 cases have been recorded following tests, but no deaths so far.

Flooding in Borno began when a dam overflowed following heavy rains, displacing millions from their homes and damaging health facilities and other infrastructures.

Baba Mallam Gana said that to combat the latest outbreak, the state got 300,000 oral cholera vaccine (OCV) doses from the federal health ministry, which have been distributed across displacement camps and flood-hit communities.