The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, has warned that Nigerians face greater risk if cases of dengue fever, yellow fever, and other infectious outbreaks go unreported and undiagnosed.
Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television on Monday, Dr Idris expressed concern that many dengue fever cases were misdiagnosed as malaria due to the similarity in symptoms and the tendency for self-medication.
“If people do not report cases, it becomes even more dangerous for the general population. The more cases we detect and report, the more targeted attention and response we can give,” he stated.
He noted that dengue, malaria, and yellow fever often present similar symptoms, which is why he cautioned against self-medication and encouraged people to visit healthcare facilities for proper diagnosis.
He said, “Some dengue fever cases lingered for two or three weeks before the NCDC was alerted. People simply had fevers and assumed it was malaria until proper diagnosis confirmed dengue. That delay hindered early intervention.”
Dr Idris also called on medical professionals in tertiary institutions to report confirmed cases promptly to the state ministries of health and the NCDC to enable swift national response.
“Once a diagnosis is made, it must be reported. That’s the only way we can mount a timely and effective response to reduce deaths,” he said.
The Federal Government had earlier issued a public health alert on 18 July 2025, warning of multiple infectious disease outbreaks including cholera, dengue fever, Mpox, diphtheria, and yellow fever.
The NCDC urged heightened vigilance and rapid action from all stakeholders, stressing the urgent need to prevent further escalation.