Public health experts have warned that the greatest danger from flooding often begins after the waters recede, as contaminated water and poor sanitation increase the risk of deadly disease outbreaks across affected communities.
The warning follows recent floods that submerged homes, damaged businesses, disrupted transportation and displaced residents in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria after weeks of heavy rainfall.
Consultant Public Health Physician at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Adedayo Aderibigbe, said while flooding causes immediate destruction, the hidden health threats that emerge afterward are often more dangerous.
According to him, floodwaters are usually contaminated with sewage, refuse and human waste, creating ideal conditions for the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea, food poisoning and malaria.
“The real health crisis begins after the flood. What many people see as ordinary rainwater often contains harmful organisms capable of causing widespread infections,” he said.
Aderibigbe noted that poor waste disposal, blocked drainage systems and the construction of buildings on natural waterways have continued to worsen flooding across the country despite government investments in drainage infrastructure.
He explained that cholera remains one of the biggest post-flood threats because floodwaters easily transport human waste into wells, streams and other sources of drinking water.
He also warned that contaminated fruits, vegetables and other food items exposed to floodwater could become sources of infection if not properly washed or cooked before consumption.
In addition, stagnant water left behind after floods creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes, leading to a sharp increase in malaria cases.
The physician urged governments at all levels to strengthen disease surveillance immediately after flooding instead of waiting for outbreaks to escalate.
According to him, hospitals and primary healthcare centres should stock adequate antibiotics, oral rehydration solutions and other essential medicines ahead of any surge in waterborne diseases.
He also called for stricter enforcement of environmental sanitation laws, saying indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels continues to worsen flooding.
Aderibigbe stressed that planning authorities should prevent illegal construction on waterways and ensure proper environmental impact assessments before approving major developments.
He advised residents in flood-prone communities to comply with government evacuation directives, avoid walking through floodwater whenever possible and always wash thoroughly with clean water and soap after any contact.
He further urged Nigerians to boil drinking water from doubtful sources, wash fruits and vegetables properly, cook food thoroughly and maintain good hand hygiene during the rainy season.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), Dr. Doyin Odubanjo, said flooding affects not only physical health but also mental wellbeing.
He noted that many families experience anxiety and emotional distress as floods disrupt livelihoods, damage homes and prevent people from carrying out their daily activities.
Odubanjo explained that floods contaminate entire communities by mixing sewage, refuse and human waste with drinking water sources, making outbreaks of cholera, typhoid and other gastrointestinal diseases almost inevitable if preventive measures are not taken.
He added that stagnant water encourages mosquito breeding, increasing malaria cases, while flies spread harmful organisms from contaminated waste to exposed food.
Beyond health concerns, he said flooding also threatens food security by destroying farmlands and reducing access to nutritious food, increasing the risk of malnutrition, particularly among children.
Odubanjo urged households to treat drinking water by boiling or disinfecting it, maintain proper food hygiene, eliminate stagnant water around their homes and consistently use insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
He also called on governments to intensify public awareness campaigns, clear blocked drainage systems, repair damaged water infrastructure and strengthen water treatment in flood-affected communities.
According to him, authorities should prioritise vulnerable populations, including those living in displacement camps and overcrowded communities, with access to clean water, sanitation facilities and oral cholera vaccines where necessary.
Both experts agreed that Nigeria’s recurring floods have become a major public health challenge driven by climate change, poor urban planning, weak environmental enforcement and inadequate sanitation.
They stressed that preventing disease outbreaks requires year-round investment in drainage infrastructure, improved access to safe drinking water, stronger disease surveillance, better-equipped healthcare facilities and sustained public education.
The experts warned that unless governments act quickly and citizens follow public health advice, the lives lost after floods could ultimately exceed the damage caused by the flooding itself.
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