THE Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, has warned that unreported and misdiagnosed outbreaks of infectious diseases like dengue fever, yellow fever, cholera, diphtheria, and Mpox pose a significantly greater danger to the Nigerian population than commonly understood.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Dr. Idris expressed concern that many cases of dengue fever are being mistaken for malaria, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and treatment, as well as poor outbreak response.
“Unfortunately, dengue fever shares many symptoms with malaria and yellow fever such as high fever, headache, and fatigue, which leads many to self-medicate or receive the wrong treatment,” Idris explained.
He warned that the failure to report these illnesses to healthcare authorities compromises national health security and undermines efforts to mount timely responses.
“One thing that is important is that if people do not report cases, it is more dangerous for us as a people.
The more cases we report, the more attention and resources we can deploy,” he stated.
Dr. Idris revealed that in several instances, dengue fever cases went undiagnosed for weeks, allowing the disease to spread further before medical authorities were alerted.
“Some of the cases went on for two or three weeks before we were alerted. People just had recurring fever, and until we moved teams to investigate, we couldn’t confirm it was dengue,” he said.
He stressed the critical need for healthcare professionals, especially those in tertiary institutions, to report confirmed or suspected outbreaks promptly through the state Ministries of Health to the NCDC.
“Once a case is detected in any facility, particularly in teaching hospitals or universities with the diagnostic capacity, it should be reported immediately to allow for early response and containment.”
Idris also advised Nigerians to avoid self-medication and instead seek proper medical care when experiencing symptoms such as high fever, fatigue, and joint pain warning that the wrong treatment can make the condition worse or mask a more serious illness.
“We always advise people not to assume every fever is malaria. You must visit a healthcare facility where a proper diagnosis can be made,” he urged.
The NCDC had earlier issued a nationwide public health alert on July 18, 2025, following an uptick in confirmed cases of cholera, dengue fever, yellow fever, diphtheria, and Mpox across various regions.
In a statement posted on its official website, the agency described the situation as “a major public health concern” requiring “immediate national attention and coordinated action.”
“The situation demands heightened vigilance and intensified response efforts from all stakeholders,” the NCDC said.
The agency warned that if urgent action is not taken at all levels from local health workers to federal policymakers, the outbreaks could spiral into full-scale health emergencies.
Dr. Idris called on Nigerians to cooperate with health authorities, report unusual illness patterns, and follow official guidance to prevent further escalation of these outbreaks.
“This alert is not to cause panic, but to raise awareness. We must let people know the risks we face and what to do. Early reporting can save lives and limit the spread of disease,” he said.
The NCDC has also activated emergency coordination mechanisms and is working with state governments, hospitals, and international partners to contain the outbreaks and improve public awareness.
As Nigeria grapples with multiple concurrent disease threats, health authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant, seek early diagnosis, and resist the temptation to self-treat without professional consultation.