Nigeria to experience Outbreak of dangerous malaria disease in 2017

On malaria, NiMet said it had continued to make the forecast to sensitise citizens, advising the health sector to be better prepared to deal with the deadly disease.

The report said that `plasmodium falciparum’, a protozoan parasite that causes malaria found in Nigeria was the most dangerous of the malaria parasites.

According to NiMet, the process of mosquito birth and bites is directly influenced by rainfall, temperature and humidity that give rise to differences in stability of disease transmission and seasonal variations.

“In 2017, locations including Benin City and to its north are likely to experience high to extreme mosquito population throughout the year.

“To the north of Benin City, risk in mosquito population is expected to grow with rainy season months.

“In 2017, we expect lowest mosquito population risk occurring in areas north of Yelwa, Zaria, Bauchi and Yola axis.

NiMet also predicted that neutral El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) – variation in winds and sea surface temperatures phase, was most likely to dominate the January to June weather system across the country in 2017.

It said that the ENSO phase was expected to give way to a dominant El-Nino phase through the end of the year