August 9, 2025

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is on high alert moni­toring the global epidemiolog­ical situation following recent reports of the Chikungunya virus outbreak across 16 coun­tries so far this year.

A statement signed by Dr. Jide Idris, Director General, NCDC, while quoting World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Con­trol disclosed that over 240,000 cases and 90 deaths have been reported in the 16 countries.

Notably, China has record­ed nearly 5,000 cases since ear­ly July 2025, with Guangdong Province alone reporting close to 3,000 cases in a week.

Chikungunya is a mosqui­to-borne viral disease trans­mitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the same vectors responsible for Dengue and Yellow Fever. Unlike the Ma­laria-causing Anopheles mos­quitoes, Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day, especially early mornings and late afternoons.

Therefore, preventive efforts must extend beyond night-time protection, NCDC stressed.

The symptoms of Chikun­gunya include, sudden-onset fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.

Though rarely fatal, the disease can lead to debilitating joint pain that may persist for months and affect quality of life.

While no confirmed Chi­kungunya cases have been reported in Nigeria in 2025, the environmental conditions conducive to 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, NCDC noted.

The existing surveillance and preparedness infrastruc­ture of the NCDC in collabora­tion with State Governments and Tertiary Institution Labo­ratories, including the National Arbovirus and Vector Research Centre (NAVRC) in Enugu, en­ables early detection and rapid response to mosquito-borne threats such as Yellow Fever, Dengue, and Chikungunya.

This infrastructure will be leveraged to enhance national readiness and response to any potential Chikungunya out­breaks.

While Nigeria has not re­corded recent cases of Chi­kungunya, increased global transmission, regional prox­imity including through trade and travel to affected areas, and current environmental risks due to flooding call for height­ened vigilance. The NCDC and NAVRC urges all Nigeri­ans, especially residents and authorities in high-risk areas, to act decisively in preventing mosquito-borne illnesses.

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