NCDC WARNS OF CHIKUNGUNYA OUTBREAK, URGES NIGERIANS TO PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has issued a public health advisory on the risk of Chikungunya virus transmission in the country.

The NCDC, on Friday, via its official website, warned that recent epidemiological reports indicate a heightened potential for outbreaks in some states.

The agency explained that Chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, the same vector responsible for dengue and Zika viruses, can cause sudden fever, severe joint pain, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and rash.

Although rarely fatal, the NCDC noted that the illness can lead to long-term joint problems in some patients.

However, it urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, applying insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and eliminating stagnant water around homes.