Outbreak Horror: NCDC Warns Nigeria Facing Explosive Wave of Cholera, Dengue, Mpox

The Nigerian government has raised an urgent nationwide alert over multiple disease outbreaks that pose a growing public health threat. According to iReporter Online, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Friday issued a stern advisory warning that cholera, dengue fever, Mpox, diphtheria, and yellow fever are currently spreading across several states and require immediate, coordinated response from health authorities.

The NCDC, in a detailed situational update published on its official platform, described the unfolding health crisis as grave, urging all Nigerians and stakeholders in the health sector to escalate preventive measures and remain highly vigilant. The Centre emphasized that the combination of these infectious diseases, if left unchecked, could lead to severe public health emergencies across the country.

As of epidemiological week 26, which spans June 23–29, 2025, suspected cholera cases have been reported in 34 states, with Zamfara alone accounting for 32 percent of the national toll. Other states with confirmed cases include Adamawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers. Cholera, which is caused by Vibrio cholerae, can result in acute diarrhoea, rapid dehydration, and fatal complications if not treated promptly.

In addition, the NCDC confirmed a dengue fever outbreak in Edo State during the second week of June, following laboratory confirmations. The mosquito-borne disease, which shares similar symptoms with yellow fever, is being exacerbated by inadequate sanitation and climate-induced challenges. “Nigeria is already experiencing a rising incidence of cholera, while yellow fever and dengue fever are beginning to be detected in some states,” the Centre said, according to iReporter Online.

Seven yellow fever cases have been confirmed across Abia, Anambra, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, and Rivers states, prompting a reminder that the yellow fever vaccine remains the most effective line of defence. The NCDC also warned that dengue and yellow fever symptoms are often mistaken for malaria, which underscores the need for early testing and correct diagnosis.

The Centre further noted that Mpox and diphtheria remain serious concerns. While Mpox presents with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, diphtheria can cause severe throat infections and difficulty in breathing, particularly among children and immunocompromised individuals.

According to iReporter Online, the NCDC urged Nigerians to take decisive preventive steps, including clearing stagnant water and waste, sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, applying mosquito repellents, maintaining proper sanitation, and refraining from self-medication. The agency stressed that tackling these outbreaks requires a unified and urgent national effort, especially at a time when the country’s healthcare system is facing increased strain.

The public health advisory comes at a time of rising global health anxieties, reinforcing the NCDC’s call for citizens to remain alert, health-conscious, and cooperative with official health directives.