Aftermath of floods: Deadly disease looms – Scientist

The natural disaster that hit Nigeria recently is at the verge of stirring a deadly disease, says a scientist, Dr. Sam Awolola. The Doctor has warned that there are tendencies of imminent high cases of mosquito borne diseases in flood affected areas in the country if nothing is done urgently regarding the aftermath of the unfortunate disaster.

Dr. Awolola who doubles as a Research Fellow and member of the Society for Mosquito Control in Nigeria, SMCN, urged the Federal government to urgently put measures in place to check high breeding of mosquito in the areas with a view to ensuring that stagnant water does not become a bigger problem to the country.

According to him, “When you have flood in an area, you will never find mosquitoes anywhere near the area until the flood begins to rescind. But when it rescinds you find various types of mosquitoes coming back to lay eggs and when this happens, it becomes a big problem.”

He also emphasised on the importance of protection against mosquitoes, remarking that while it is good to ensure that residents have food to eat and be treated, it is important that those who have returned to their homes are protected from mosquitoes. “There is urgent need for government to ensure that these people sleep under a treated nets or carry out indoor residual spraying in those areas,” he warned.

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