In the past few weeks, Nigerians have been experiencing strange attacks of flu and fever. The weather has nose-dived, showcasing a blast of windy and cold nights, even in daytime. 
Our sing-song of being the destination for sun and sand, can no longer hold water. Hospitals have continued to experience unprecedented rush from sick Nigerians and the homestead of alternative medicine caregivers, rushing to the banks.
At every five homes visited or calls to friends and relations, reports of rise in cases of unprecedented fever, cold and catarrh appears to ring the hold on health issues.
Though no death seems to be recorded so far in this conference of health challenges, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says the likelihood of the fifth wave of coronavirus pandemic is back in the air. Indeed, about a thousand-plus cases have been reported across the country, the testing for COVID-19, has suddenly recorded astonishing numbers of Nigerians, among the tested and fresh applicants.
Fearful among these lots are those with underlying terminal sickness, yet even others not categorised are in serious danger.
It is not strange seeing most Nigerians kitted up to avoid cold, and rush to get vitamims or fruits that could improve on good health at pharmacies and fruit markets.
Thank God, fresh fruits are in season, However, the cost of such edibles are out of reach for average Nigerians. Hospitals, depending on grading and health infrastructure, charge between fifty to hundred thousand naira for malaria treatment or more.
Thousands of Nigerians are outside this expenditure or budget profile, hence many are resorting to self-medication or, at best, to alternative trado-medication.
It is even said that trado-medication far outposts the contemporary medication on recovery efforts by patients. I have no statistics to back this up but mere testimonials from recovered trado-medicine users abound.
Jokes off the radar of this discussion, the rise of different strange diseases in the country in recent times is alarming.
Apart from “traditional diseases ecology” of malaria, smallpox, elephantisis, chickenpox, Lassa fever, Marburg virus and coronavirus are wave makers across the country.
According to NCDC, Lassa fever has assumed national festival status with about 164 Nigerians killed in seven months. Its cases were evenly distributed across Nigeria, with 54 health workers as victims and 24 states and 99 local governments wearing the red badge.
Lassa virus is transmitted to man through infected multimammate rats and humans can be infected with the urine and faeces of such rats bearing the virus.
Also, touching soiled objects, exposure to open cuts and eating contaminated food or person-to-person transmission has huge consequences.
Have you heard of the Marburg virus? First detected in Guinea-Bissau in 2021, Marburg virus is said to share the same microscopic outlook like Ebola.
Its symptoms come as haemorrhage fever, fatality rate at 50 per cent. It has 83 per cent in Congo and 88 per cent in Angola.
How it spreads remains a mystery but bat faeces and aerosol sources are within range of suspicion, according to World Health Organization.
Other symptoms are inflammation of the pancreas, abdominal pains, liver failure, delirium, severe weight loss, multi-organ dysfunction, jaundice and many more.
Ghana has confirmed the presence of MVD and Nigeria may be the next target as we share many things with Ghana. However, NCDC is on the lookout and has rolled out preventive measures against MVD.
In all, let us be circumspect, particularly knowing that our health care system may not be able to cope with the rush for medication.
Tour operators particularly and other tourism stakeholders should brace up to inform their clients of these health matters, take out appropriate insurance and, above all, avoid destinations with likely impact of the virus and flu. Use your nose mask, wash your hands regularly, keep your hotel rooms free from rats and mosquitoes and watch what eat or drink.