The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the country was experiencing a rising incidence of cholera, while yellow fever and dengue fever were beginning to be detected in some states.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the agency, Dr. Jide Idris on Thursday, The NCDC is working closely with state governments, health partners, and communities to strengthen surveillance, provide treatment supplies, deploy rapid response teams, and other communication and community engagement efforts to contain outbreaks and reduce their impact.
The statement read in part:
“Following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) recently issued an impact-based weather forecast for July 2025, highlighting several states at heightened risk of flooding and flash floods.
“Sokoto state was identified as having a
particularly high risk of flash flooding. Other states at notable flood risk include Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe and a
couple of other states.
“Flash floods can lead to large-scale displacement of populations, disruption of livelihoods, and increased risk of
infectious disease outbreaks especially waterborne and vector-borne diseases.
“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. This contamination affects drinking
water sources and creates ideal conditions for the spread of cholera, which is caused by the bacterium Vibrio
cholerae.
“Additionally, heavy rainfall or flooding can create stagnant water in natural and artificial receptacles such as
puddles, tree holes, discarded tyres and containers which becomes ideal breeding sites for mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever”.
The DG informed that Nigeria was already experiencing a rising incidence of cholera, while yellow fever and dengue fever were beginning to be detected in some states.
“This is also occurring at a time when the country is contending with ongoing outbreaks of Mpox and diphtheria.
“In response to the rising risks and threats, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of its ongoing, coordinated national response to recent surges in these infectious disease outbreaks”, he said.
He added that the NCDC was working closely with state governments, health partners, and communities to strengthen surveillance, provide treatment supplies, deploy rapid response teams, and other communication and community engagement efforts to contain outbreaks and reduce their impact.
About cholera, Dr. Idris explained that, “cholera is a life-threatening disease that causes severe acute watery diarrhoea, which can lead to rapid dehydration.
It affects both children and adults. Symptoms typically appear between 12 hours and 5 days after exposure and, if not treated promptly, the disease can result in death within hours.
It is transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Heavy rains can wash
the bacteria into drinking water supplies.
“As of Epidemiological Week 26 (23rd
– 29th June 2025), 34 states have reported cases, with Zamfara State accounting for 32% of all suspected cases. Other states with high case numbers include Bayelsa, Adamawa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers”.
Furthermore, “Yellow fever and dengue fever are mosquito-borne viral diseases that pose a growing public health concern in Nigeria. They are transmitted primarily by the Aedes species. Preventing mosquito bites and eliminating breeding sites are key to reducing the spread of both diseases”.
