(In Nigeria) Cholera Outbreak in Northwest Kills 8, Infects Over 200

A cholera outbreak has struck Bukkuyum district in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, killing at least eight people and infecting over 200 residents. The disease has spread across 11 rural communities, including Nasarawa-Burkullu, Gurusu, and Adabka. Many patients are being treated at home due to the absence of functioning primary healthcare facilities. Cholera, a water-borne illness, is linked to unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation, both common in rural parts of Nigeria.

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Local leaders said limited access to hospitals has worsened the crisis. Muhammad Jibci, village head of Gurusu, reported that three patients died because of delays in reaching Nasarawa General Hospital. Other residents described a lack of essential medicines and drips for patients, leaving families to manage cases without proper care.

Nigeria has faced repeated cholera outbreaks, particularly in northern states where poverty, unsafe water sources, and weak health infrastructure create fertile ground for the disease. Health workers and residents warn that without swift action, the number of deaths and infections will rise rapidly, especially in vulnerable communities.

Efforts to contain the outbreak are being complicated by widespread insecurity in Zamfara State, which is at the center of bandit violence in northwest Nigeria. Armed groups frequently attack villages, block travel routes, and kidnap residents for ransom. These security challenges prevent sick villagers from traveling to hospitals in nearby towns and hinder the delivery of essential medical supplies.

Residents described the dire situation, saying many cannot access treatment because bandits block roads, leaving communities isolated. Farming has also become dangerous, reducing household income and worsening food and water shortages. The combination of insecurity and limited healthcare means the outbreak could spiral further out of control.

Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi, a federal lawmaker from the region, has urged the Zamfara government and international NGOs to act urgently. He warned that any delay in deploying medical teams and cholera treatment centers would cost more lives, particularly among women and children who are most vulnerable to dehydration caused by the illness.

So far, Zamfara state health authorities have not issued an official statement. With healthcare stretched and insecurity intensifying, residents fear the outbreak may grow unless immediate emergency response measures are taken.

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