The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has alerted 10 states to a high risk of cholera and other disease outbreaks.
The alert follows forecasts by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which indicated that parts of Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Kwara States may experience heavy rainfall and flooding between April 13 and April 17.
Dr. Jide Idris, the Director-General of the NCDC, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Idris reiterated that early action, community vigilance, and prompt care-seeking could prevent outbreaks and save lives, noting that the forecast coincides with the seasonal period when cholera cases typically begin to rise in the country, warning that flooding could worsen disease transmission.
According to him, recent surveillance data already show increasing cholera activity across multiple states, raising concern that flood conditions could accelerate outbreaks.
He explained that flooding increases public health risks by contaminating drinking water sources, disrupting sanitation systems, and exposing communities to unsafe environmental conditions.
He warned that beyond cholera, other risks include malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases, infections from contact with contaminated floodwaters, injuries such as drowning and snakebites, as well as disruption of access to healthcare services.
However, he stressed that the risks remain preventable with early action and community vigilance.
He advised residents in at-risk areas to use only safe water for drinking and cooking, including boiling, chlorination, or bottled water, while also maintaining strict hand hygiene practices.
He further urged the public to avoid contact with floodwaters where possible, ensure proper sanitation and waste disposal, and store food safely to prevent contamination.
“Residents are also advised to sleep under insecticide-treated nets and seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, or general illness,” he said.
He called on community leaders and local authorities to support environmental sanitation, drainage clearance, and the dissemination of accurate public health information to prevent outbreaks.
He added that it is working closely with State Ministries of Health and partners to strengthen surveillance systems and enhance preparedness for rapid response in affected areas.
State governments, he said, were also being supported to activate multisectoral response mechanisms, particularly in water, sanitation, and emergency management sectors.
NAN reports that Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by drinking water or eating food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae.
It spreads quickly in areas with unsafe water, poor sanitation, and during flooding, and can cause severe dehydration and death if not treated promptly.
In Nigeria, cholera is endemic and seasonal, with outbreaks occurring almost every year, especially during the rainy and flood seasons.
Its burden is driven by unsafe water sources, poor sanitation infrastructure, flooding, and overcrowding, particularly affecting children, rural communities, and displaced populations.
While preventable and treatable, cholera continues to strain Nigeria’s health system during peak outbreak periods.
