Cholera outbreak in northeast Nigeria kills 74, infects over 7,000 since May

ABUJA, Nigeria — A cholera outbreak in northeastern Nigeria's Borno State has killed 74 people and infected more than 7,000 since May, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The organization said the disease has spread to 14 of the state's 27 local government areas, with 7,439 patients treated at its facilities. MSF reported that its health centers recorded around 500 new cases per day last week, the highest daily figure since the outbreak began. The group said community-level transmission and the use of open defecation are making the crisis difficult to contain, according to project coordinator Jessie Cornora. Borno has faced weakened health infrastructure after nearly two decades of attacks by Boko Haram, humanitarian workers said, noting that shortages of clean water and inadequate sanitation are driving the rapid spread. Nigerian government data shows that only 14% of the country's population has access to safe drinking water, a shortage compounded in Borno by high population density. Health experts warned that the rainy season, combined with limited water and sanitation infrastructure and ongoing security challenges, could deepen the crisis. No further details on response plans were immediately available.