The Federal Government of Nigeria has made four emergency requests to the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision for cholera vaccines as the country struggles to contain a rising death toll from the disease. According to nationwide data, cholera has claimed at least 500 lives as of October 26, 2025, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced outbreak response efforts.

A recent report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals that the global cholera upsurge remains severe, with 565,404 cases and 7,074 deaths recorded across 32 countries in five WHO regions. The Eastern Mediterranean Region has been the hardest hit, followed by the African Region, the South-East Asia Region, the Region of the Americas, and the Western Pacific Region.

In Nigeria, cholera remains a significant public health challenge, with 22,102 cases and 500 deaths reported, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate of 2.3 percent. The WHO report notes that in the last 28 days of October, Nigeria recorded 1,320 cholera cases, 33 deaths, and a Case Fatality Rate of 2.5 percent.

The African Region reported 13,253 new cholera cases across 13 countries in October, marking a 19 percent decrease compared to September. The highest numbers of cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and South Sudan. Furthermore, 272 cholera-related deaths were reported, representing a 24 percent decrease from the previous month.

The WHO has emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing and controlling cholera. The global Oral Cholera Vaccine stockpile averaged 7.9 million doses in October, with 50 new emergency requests submitted to the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision in the first ten months of 2025. Nineteen countries have conducted 64 reactive vaccination campaigns, including Nigeria, which has made four emergency requests for cholera vaccines.

To address the challenges posed by the cholera surge, the WHO, UNICEF, IFRC, and partners are strengthening forecasting, improving coordination, and prioritizing vaccine distribution based on urgent needs. They are also advocating for sustained international investment and technical support to boost country-level preparedness and response. Recently, the Government of Japan donated $500,000 worth of commodities and equipment to support Nigeria’s response to cholera outbreaks, aiming to enhance the country’s ability to detect, contain, and respond rapidly to outbreaks.