The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a combined total of 366 deaths from Lassa fever and meningitis between January and May 2025, signalling a deepening public health crisis in the country.
In its latest update published on Friday, May 30, the NCDC said it confirmed 733 cases of Lassa fever out of 5,118 suspected infections in 18 states and 95 local government areas. The disease claimed 141 lives, representing a case fatality rate of 19.2 per cent.
“The case fatality rate stands at 19.2 per cent, slightly higher than 18.3 per cent in 2024, indicating that one in five people infected is dying, in spite of coordinated national efforts,” the agency warned.
The centre noted that new infections rose sharply in the 20th epidemiological week, jumping from three to 13 cases in Edo, Ondo, and Benue States. It identified Ondo, Bauchi, and Edo as the most affected states, jointly accounting for 72 per cent of all confirmed cases.
Lassa fever, the NCDC said, is affecting mostly young adults aged 21 to 30 years, with infections split almost evenly between males and females. Fortunately, no new infections among healthcare workers were recorded in the past week.
The NCDC added that a multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains active to coordinate national response strategies.
Turning to meningitis, the centre described the current situation as even more alarming. Between January and May, 192 cases were confirmed from 2,911 suspected cases, with 225 deaths recorded, amounting to a fatality rate of 7.7 per cent.
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Children between the ages of five and 14 were the most affected, while males accounted for 60 per cent of all reported infections.
According to the NCDC, the outbreak has spread to 24 states and 173 local government areas, with northern states such as Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, and Jigawa contributing 97 per cent of all suspected cases.
In response, the agency said it has activated a national Emergency Operations Centre.
This includes collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and development partners.
“We are providing continuous technical support to high-burden states and reinforcing outbreak preparedness across the country,” the NCDC stated.
Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease spread mainly through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rats. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through bodily fluids, contaminated items, or medical equipment.
Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from body openings.