The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has placed 10 states on high alert over the risk of a cholera outbreak following forecasts of heavy rainfall and flooding across parts of the country.
The agency identified the high-risk states as Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Kwara, warning that the expected downpour could significantly heighten the spread of waterborne diseases.
Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, in a statement on Wednesday, said the projected rainfall between April 13 and April 17 coincides with Nigeria’s peak cholera transmission period, raising serious public health concerns.
He explained that flooding often leads to contamination of water sources and poor sanitation conditions, creating a conducive environment for cholera outbreaks.
“These forecasts are particularly concerning because they align with the period when cholera transmission typically accelerates,” Idris said.
Beyond cholera, the NCDC cautioned that affected states could also witness a surge in other health threats, including diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, injuries and snakebites linked to flooding.
The agency urged residents in the listed states to adopt preventive measures, including the use of safe drinking water, maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding contact with floodwaters and seeking prompt medical attention if symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting occur.
It also called on state governments and local authorities to step up emergency preparedness by intensifying environmental sanitation, clearing blocked drainages and strengthening disease surveillance and rapid response systems.
The NCDC added that it is working closely with state ministries of health to bolster preparedness and avert a large-scale outbreak.
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