The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted the public to possible outbreak and spread of Chikungunya disease in the country citing worsening environmental and climatic conditions.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the NCDC said this in a statement issued by its Director-General, Dr Jide Idris on Friday adding that although no confirmed case has been reported in the country this year, the risk of transmission is however high.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes — the same species that spread Dengue and Yellow Fever. Unlike the malaria-causing Anopheles mosquitoes that bite at night, Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
The statement noted that the severe flooding across many parts of the country during the ongoing rainy season created a favourable environment for mosquito-borne diseases, including Chikungunya, Dengue, and Yellow Fever.
‘While no confirmed Chikungunya cases have been reported in Nigeria in 2025, the enabling environmental conditions for outbreaks are present, especially in flood-affected and high-risk states, and this requires proactive risk reduction. With the ongoing rainy season and increased flooding across parts of Nigeria, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases including Chikungunya, Dengue, and Yellow Fever is significantly heightened.
This advisory builds on the NCDC’s earlier nationwide alert on flood related diseases such as Cholera, Yellow Fever, and Dengue fever. The preventive measures outlined in that advisory remain relevant and critical for reducing the risk of Chikungunya, Yellow fever and Dengue transmission as well.
Therefore, preventive efforts must extend beyond night-time protection’ the agency noted.
Citing global data from the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the NCDC said over 240,000 cases and 90 deaths have been reported in at least 16 countries this year.
China recorded nearly 5,000 cases since July, with Guangdong Province accounting for almost 3,000 cases in a single week.
Residents of the country have been urged to shun poor sanitation and attach importance to good hygiene practices.
‘To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, Nigerians are advised to use insecticide-treated mosquito nets while sleeping, wear protective clothing with long sleeves and trousers, and apply mosquito repellent on exposed skin, especially in the early morning and late afternoon’ the statement added.
Nigerians, the agency added, should ensure proper environmental sanitation, eliminate standing water around their homes, empty containers, tyres, flower pots, and unblock gutters to prevent mosquito breeding, wash hands regularly, and seek prompt medical care when experiencing symptoms such as fever, rash, or joint pain-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
