Reactive Risk Communication and Media Framing During Nigeria’s 2024 Cholera Outbreak

ABSTRACT Background Risk communication is critical in shaping public response during infectious disease outbreaks. This study quantitatively examined whether Nigerian media coverage during the 2024 cholera outbreak reflected a proactive or reactive risk communication pattern. Methods A Python-based systematic content analysis was conducted on 352 unique news articles published by major Nigerian media sources in 2024. K-Means was used to cluster and quantify thematic patterns, TextBlob for sentiment polarity, and time-series analysis to determine the features of media engagement. Results The analysis identified a dominant reactive, crisis-driven communication pattern with media coverage surging by over 400% in June, matching the peak of reported cholera cases. Thematic analysis portrayed a severe reporting imbalance focused on Outbreak Reports and Mortality (41.5% of articles), while structural and preventive themes such as WASH and Health Education received marginal attention (less than 25% of coverage). Furthermore, communication was overwhelmingly neutral (76.4%) in sentiment, potentially limiting the perceived urgency required for public action. Conclusions Media reporting on the 2024 cholera outbreak in Nigeria was reactive and focused disproportionately on threat rather than solutions. These findings support the need for a strategic dual-focus communication model that shifts from crisis-driven coverage to sustained, year-round preventive messaging centered on WASH accountability and community resilience.