Floods: Nigeria at risk of the Chikungunya virus outbreak, NCDC warns

The Center for Nigerian Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a warning to public health advisors about the potential of the Chikungunya virus outbreak in the country, quoting a deteriorating environmental and climate conditions.

In a statement signed by the Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, on Friday, the agency noted that while no confirmed case was reported in Nigeria in 2025, the risk of transmission remains high due to widespread floods and the ongoing rainy season.

“While there are no confirmed Chikungunya cases reported in Nigeria in 2025, environmental conditions that are conducive to outbreaks are present, especially in countries affected by floods and high risk, and this requires a proactive risk reduction. With a sustainable rainy season and an increase in yellowish, and the risk of yellowish, nigeria, nigeria, yellowish, yellowish, yellowish and yellowish

“This advisor was built based on the previous NCDC national warning of flood -related diseases such as cholera, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Preventive steps described in advisors remain relevant and important to reduce the risk of chikungunya, yellow fever and transmission of dengue fever as well.

“Therefore, prevention efforts must exceed night protection,” added the agent.

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Chikungunya is a viral disease that is transmitted by Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, the same species responsible for dengue fever and yellow fever. Unlike Anopheles mosquitoes, which send malaria and bite, especially at night, Aedes mosquitoes are active during the day, especially in the morning and evening.

NCDC said the current floods in several states have created favorable conditions for mosquitoes carrying disease, increasing the risk of chikungunya plague, dengue fever, and yellow fever. The warning was built based on the national warning of the previous agency on flood -related diseases, including cholera and yellow fever.

Citing global data from the world health organization and European disease prevention and control center, NCDC revealed that more than 240,000 cases and 90 deaths have been recorded in at least 16 countries this year. China itself has reported nearly 5,000 cases since July, with Guangdong Province contributed nearly 3,000 in one week.

While there are no domestic cases confirmed this year, NCDC warns the potential of imports through trade and trips to affected areas.

This urges residents in high -risk areas to take serious preventive action, including using mosquito nets treated with insecticides, wearing long -sleeved clothing, applying mosquito repellent, maintaining appropriate sanitation, and removing inundation water to curb mosquito breeding.

The agency also suggested rapid medical attention to symptoms such as fever, rashes, or joint pain and reaffirms its commitment to work with the national arbovirus and vector research centers and other stakeholders to strengthen supervision and support efforts to respond to the state level.