Impact of Local Climate Variability on Cholera Outbreaks in Bida Metropolis of Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed local climate variability effects on cholera outbreaks in Bida Metropolis and the environs of Niger State. Bida Metropolis and Environs were purposively sampled. Climatic data (Rainfall and Temperature) of Bida and Environs between the years 2000 to 2020 were collected from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), while cases of reported cholera were collected from Umaru Saad General Hospital and Federal Medical Center Bida. Regression analysis of the collected data reveals that there is positive relationship between rainfall and cholera cases with an Fvalue of 0.637. This implies that, more cholera cases were reported during the period of high rainfall. However, there is no positive relationship between temperature and cholera cases with a t-value of 0.987. A two-factor regression analysis of the data reveals there is no significant relationship between the climatic elements combined (rainfall and temperature) and cholera cases. Most of the cases of cholera were reported at the beginning of the rainy season between March and April while the cases of cholera were low during the dry season. The study recommended that the government needs to enlighten the people on the need for adequate environmental sanitation with a high level of consciousness at the beginning of the rainy season of the relationship between climatic elements and cholera incidences. There is a need for the people to be enlightened about climate variability, its effects and the means of mitigating or moderating its impact in order to reduce the influence of climate on cholera outbreak.