Date: 2012-03-23

WITH temperatures currently hovering between 36 and 42 degrees Celsius across the country, meteorologists and epidemiologists have warned of possible outbreak of some diseases that thrive in hot weather like meningitis, tuberculosis, malaria, dengue fever, measles, chicken pox, boils, skin rashes, and even heart attack.

They have also stated that the hot weather and associated high humidity could cause deadly disease spread and high mortality rate in the poultry sub-sector.

The meteorologists said the hot weather was not unusual as the Earth transits between dry and rainy seasons, with the dusty atmosphere trapping moisture.

However, they said the moisture would soon saturate and overcome the hostility from the dust to form rains. 

Meanwhile, residents of Ilorin, Kwara State, have expressed concern over the sudden change in weather in the town, resulting in excessive heat in the day and at night.

The situation has been exacerbated by a recent sudden decline in electricity supply to densely populated parts of the ancient town, forcing residents of the affected areas out of their rooms at nights.

The worst hit areas are Sango, Sabo-Oke, Fate, Basin, Gaa Akanbi and Offa Garage.

Enoch Adebiyi, an octogenarian who lives in the Eleboto area of Sango, said: "We are under a very serious heat condition here. We have our bath three to four times daily. The volume of water in our well has drastically reduced. We can no longer sleep inside our rooms at nights. They are like ovens.

"To aggravate our plight, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) gives 15 minutes power supply daily now. I had never seen this type of heat in my 82 years on earth. Government has to do something positive to save us."

A lecturer in the Department of Geography, University of Ilorin, Raheem Jimoh, said the excessive heat could not be unconnected with the "intensive heating of the Earth surface."

Jimoh advised people to drink more water, wear light attires, bath regularly and keep their rooms well ventilated at night until the rainy season will start in the town.

According to the epidemiologists, a number of research studies had established that hot weather increases the risk of heart attacks in people with risk factors for heart diseases even as it can cause heat-related disorders like heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.