WHO Says Flooding Can Contribute To Monkey Pox

Dr Bassey Bassey, the Delta State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation,  has said flooding in some parts of the country may have contributed to the monkeypox outbreak.

Bassey, who was represented by Dr Casmir Ifeanyi, said, “Flooding is known to facilitate infectious disease transmission. It is no longer in doubt. Therefore, that will expose affected communities to outbreak of epidemics, zootomic and other epizootic effects such as cholera.

He said this at a one-day colloquium organised by the Association of Medical Scientists of Nigeria, FCT branch.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Perennial flooding in Nigeria: Communicable diseases and looming antimicrobial resistance’, he said floodwater was a major source of infectious communicable diseases because animals defecate in floodwater, which humans come in contact with.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control also stated that flooding had led to an increase in microbial resistance.

The National Coordinator of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who was represented by Dr Adedeji Adebayo, said floodwater had become the major source of infectious diseases.

He added, “Floodwater can be a source of disease outbreak through contamination with sewage water, human waste, animal waste, animal dead bodies, soil pathogens, deadly particles and chemicals.

“And floodwater can also be a vector-breeding site and venomous animals like snakes. Floodwater can contain disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites. Floodwater can become contaminated with agricultural waste, chemicals, raw sewage and other pollutants.”