The Federal Government of Nigeria has submitted four emergency requests to the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision for cholera vaccines as the country struggles to contain a rising death toll. Nationwide data show that cholera has claimed at least 500 lives as of 26 October 2025, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced outbreak‑response efforts.
A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report highlights the severity of the global cholera upsurge, with 565,404 cases and 7,074 deaths recorded across 32 countries in five WHO regions. The Eastern Mediterranean Region has been hardest hit, followed by the African, South‑East Asia, Americas, and Western Pacific regions. In Nigeria alone, 22,102 cases and 500 deaths have been reported, resulting in a case‑fatality rate (CFR) of 2.3 %. During the last 28 days of October, Nigeria recorded 1,320 cases, 33 deaths and a CFR of 2.5 %.
In the African Region, 13,253 new cholera cases were reported across 13 countries in October, a 19 % decrease compared with September. The highest numbers came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and South Sudan. The region also saw 272 cholera‑related deaths, a 24 % decline from the previous month.
The WHO emphasizes vaccination as a key tool for preventing and controlling cholera. The global oral cholera vaccine stockpile averaged 7.9 million doses in October, and 50 new emergency requests were submitted to the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision during the first ten months of 2025. Nineteen countries have carried out 64 reactive vaccination campaigns, including Nigeria’s four emergency requests.
To address the 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 cholera response, aiming to enhance the country’s ability to detect, contain and respond rapidly to outbreaks.
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