The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a nationwide alert warning of a potential spike in cholera, yellow fever, and dengue fever cases.
In a statement signed by Jide Idris, its director-general, the NCDC said the alert follows recent forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which identified Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, and several other states as being at heightened risk of flash floods this July.
“Floodwaters often contaminate our water sources by washing pathogens or germs from soil, animal waste, or overwhelmed sewage systems into rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water,” the statement reads.
“This contamination affects drinking water sources and creates ideal conditions for the spread of cholera.”
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According to the NCDC, as of late June 23-29, suspected cholera cases have been reported in 34 states, with Zamfara alone accounting for 32 percent of all suspected cases.
Other heavily affected states include Bayelsa, Adamawa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers.
The agency also raised concerns about yellow fever and dengue fever, both of which are spread by mosquitoes that thrive in stagnant water left over from floods.
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The NCDC confirmed an outbreak of dengue fever in Edo state between June 9 and 13, with lab tests validating the surge in cases.
The agency said seven confirmed cases of yellow fever have also been reported in six states: Abia, Anambra, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, and Rivers.
“A single confirmed case of yellow fever is considered an outbreak. No deaths have been recorded to date,” the statement reads.
The NCDC said it is working “closely with state governments, health partners, and communities to strengthen surveillance, provide treatment supplies, deploy rapid response teams, and carry out other communication and community engagement efforts to contain outbreaks and reduce their impact”.
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The NCDC advised individuals to maintain hygiene through regular handwashing and proper sanitation, washing fruits and vegetables with clean water, covering water storage containers and clearing stagnant water, using insecticide-treated nets and repellents, and ensuring vaccinations are up to date.
“We urge all state governments to remain alert and intensify surveillance efforts to ensure timely detection and response to any of these diseases,” the agency added.
