NCDC Alerts 10 States Over Cholera Risk Amid Flood Warnings
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Submerged farmlands along River Benue after August floods, 2024 (Image credit: Internet)
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed 10 states on high alert over a potential cholera outbreak following forecasts of heavy rainfall and flooding.
In a statement on Wednesday, Director-General Jide Idris said projections indicate that Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Kwara states are likely to experience intense rainfall between April 13 and 17.
He warned that flooding could contaminate water sources and compromise sanitation systems, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
“Communities with limited access to clean water and poor sanitation are particularly vulnerable during this period,” Idris said.
The alert comes as Nigeria enters a season typically associated with rising cholera cases, with early surveillance already indicating increasing infections in some areas.
Beyond cholera, the agency warned of possible spikes in other waterborne diseases and mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria due to stagnant water.
Flooding could also disrupt healthcare access and expose residents to injuries, particularly in rural communities.
The NCDC urged residents to adopt preventive measures, including proper hygiene, use of safe drinking water and avoidance of floodwaters.
It also called on local authorities to intensify environmental sanitation, especially by clearing blocked drainage systems.
Idris said the agency is working with state governments to strengthen surveillance and response systems, emphasising that early action is critical to preventing avoidable deaths.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 
Oluwatobi Adu 