Nigeria reports 359 cholera deaths in the first nine months of the year

More than 350 people have died from cholera in Nigeria in the first nine months of this year.

Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed that  359 people had died from cholera between January and September this year and It is a 239% jump compared to 106 during the same period last year. 

Cholera, a water-borne disease, is not uncommon in Nigeria where health authorities say there is a lack of potable drinking water in rural areas and urban slums. 

NCDC said 359 people had died between January and September compared to 106 during the same period last year. 

The number of suspected cholera cases also increased to 10,837, up from 3,387 the previous year, with most of those affected being children under five years old. 

Lagos,  Nigeria's commercial capital, recorded the highest number of cases, NCDC said. 

Authorities in northeastern Borno disclosed that a cholera outbreak had hit the state, which is also dealing with flooding that has displaced nearly 2 million people.