Cholera, yellow fever cases rise due to flooding

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a nationwide health alert over the increased risk of cholera, yellow fever, and dengue fever as flooding intensifies across parts of the country.

In a statement signed by Jide Idris, director-general of the NCDC, the agency said the alert follows recent forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which identified Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, and several other states as high-risk areas for flash floods this July.

The NCDC warned that floodwaters often contaminate drinking sources by washing germs from soil, animal waste, and sewage into rivers and lakes — creating ideal conditions for the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

According to the agency, Nigeria has recorded suspected cholera cases in 34 states between June 23 and 29, with Zamfara alone accounting for 32 percent of all reported cases. Other affected states include Bayelsa, Adamawa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers.

The agency also expressed concern over rising cases of yellow fever and dengue fever, which are both transmitted by mosquitoes that breed in stagnant water left after floods.

Between June 9 and 13, Edo state confirmed an outbreak of dengue fever following laboratory validation. Seven confirmed cases of yellow fever have also been recorded 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 NCDC said.

To curb the spread of the diseases, the agency said it is working with state governments, health partners, and communities to strengthen disease surveillance, provide treatment supplies, deploy rapid response teams, and increase public awareness.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene through regular handwashing, covering water containers, clearing stagnant water, washing fruits and vegetables with clean water, using insecticide-treated nets and repellents, and ensuring their 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 statement added.