With heavy rains and flash floods displacing thousands across the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised the alarm over the heightened risk of deadly disease outbreaks, including cholera, yellow fever, and dengue fever.
The warning follows a forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which identified Sokoto, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Yobe among states likely to witness severe flooding in July.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NCDC said the ongoing floods are not only destroying homes and livelihoods but are also compromising sanitation systems, thereby increasing the risk of infectious disease transmission.
“Flooding doesn’t just wash away property; it also exposes communities to serious public health threats. Contaminated water sources and stagnant pools create the perfect environment for waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases to thrive,” the agency stated.
According to the NCDC, cholera has already been reported in 34 states this year, with Zamfara State alone accounting for nearly one-third of the total suspected cases. The bacteria responsible for the disease, which spreads rapidly in poor sanitary conditions, thrives in environments where access to clean drinking water is disrupted.
Public health officials are advising residents in affected areas to take basic precautions — such as boiling drinking water, maintaining proper hygiene, and avoiding open defecation — to prevent further spread of the disease.
In addition to cholera, mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fever and dengue are also on the rise in several states, as stagnant floodwaters become breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito.
So far, confirmed cases of yellow fever have been recorded in Abia, Anambra, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, and Rivers States. Dengue fever, a painful and debilitating viral illness, has also been confirmed in Edo State.
Health authorities stress that even a single confirmed case of yellow fever constitutes an outbreak and are urging residents to use insecticide-treated mosquito nets, apply repellents, and eliminate stagnant water around homes.
The NCDC said it has ramped up disease surveillance efforts and deployed rapid response teams to affected communities. Medical supplies have also been distributed, while yellow fever vaccination campaigns are being scaled up in high-risk areas in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
“With climate change intensifying weather patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, we must prepare for these public health consequences,” the NCDC said.
It also reiterated its call for state governments, community leaders, and health workers to heighten awareness and mobilise local responses to mitigate the impact of the floods and prevent avoidable deaths.