Since early July 2018, MSF has been responding to a cholera outbreak that continues to spread in the southern region of Maradi, reaching a scale that is large for Niger, where sporadic cases or minor outbreaks are regularly reported. As of end of August, the current epidemic has left over 2,000 persons affected and 38 dead.

MSF teams run cholera treatment centres in N’Yelwa, Dan Issa, Madarounfa, Tibiri, Tchidafaoua and Maraka, and a cholera treatment unit in Safo, where severe cases are stabilised and receive intravenous hydration.

The first three cases, reported on 5 July at the health centre in N’Yelwa, came from neighbouring Nigeria. Southern Niger and northern Nigeria share the challenge of difficult access to clean drinking water and safe latrines. Together with high mobility between border villages, heavy rains and seasonal floods that the entire region is facing, it creates a perfect environment for this waterborne disease
to spread.

In Niger, the border district of Madarounfa has been hit hardest, and the epidemic has since reached other areas of the region – including its capital Maradi, home to more than 300,000 people.