Nigeria makes four emergency requests for cholera vaccines as death toll hits 500 — WHO

Nigeria has submitted four emergency requests for cholera vaccines as cases rise to 22,102 and deaths hit 500, according to a new WHO report highlighting global surge

The Federal Government has submitted four emergency requests to the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision as Nigeria battles an escalating cholera outbreak that has claimed at least 500 lives as of October 26, 2025.

Also read: Japan donates $500,000 to boost Nigeria’s cholera response

The latest World Health Organisation situation report, exclusively obtained on Friday, reveals that cholera remains a major global health threat, with 565,404 cases and 7,074 deaths recorded across 32 countries in five WHO regions.

Nigeria continues to feature among the worst-hit countries. According to the report, Nigeria recorded 22,102 cholera cases and 500 deaths, representing a Case Fatality Rate of 2.3 per cent.

Within the last 28 days of October alone, the country reported 1,320 cases and 33 deaths, with the CFR rising to 2.5 per cent.

The WHO noted that the Eastern Mediterranean Region currently has the highest burden of cholera, followed by Africa, South-East Asia, the Americas, and the Western Pacific.

Across Africa, the report showed that 13,253 new cholera cases were reported in October across 13 countries— a 19 per cent decrease from September.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and South Sudan accounted for most of these infections. Nigeria also recorded one of the region’s highest death tolls for the month.

Between January 1 and October 26, 2025, a total of 223,452 cases and 4,955 deaths were reported across 21 African countries.

South Sudan, the DRC, and Angola remain the epicentres of the persistent surge.

On vaccine availability, WHO disclosed that the global Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) stockpile stood at an average of 7.9 million doses in October— above the five million minimum required for emergency response.

However, demand has skyrocketed. Fifty emergency requests for OCV doses were submitted to the ICG in the first 10 months of 2025— more than double the volume recorded in 2024.

Nigeria submitted four of these requests, seeking doses to support single-round vaccination campaigns. Forty-six requests, representing 49 million doses, were approved.

Despite the increasing demand, WHO warned that limited vaccine supplies, fragile water and sanitation infrastructure, weak surveillance systems, and staff shortages continue to undermine cholera control efforts globally. Conflict zones, climate shocks, and porous borders have also accelerated transmission.

To address the growing crisis, WHO, UNICEF, IFRC, and partners are scaling up forecasting, coordination, and targeted vaccine distribution, while pushing for stronger international investment in preparedness and response.

In support of Nigeria’s efforts, the Government of Japan recently donated $500,000 worth of commodities, training supplies, equipment, and preparedness tools through the WHO.

Life-saving materials valued at $104,951 were formally handed over to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Abuja.

Also read: Cholera outbreak hits Plateau community, claims lives in Bokkos LGA

According to the WHO, the intervention is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to detect, respond to, and contain outbreaks quickly, thereby reducing deaths and severe illness as cholera continues to spread in several states.

Quadri Olaitan