The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that a total of 366 people have lost their lives to Lassa fever and meningitis across various states in the country, underscoring the persistent threat these infectious diseases pose to public health.
According to the NCDC, between January 1 and May 18, 2025, 733 confirmed cases of Lassa fever were recorded out of 5,118 suspected infections in 18 states and 95 local government areas.
The outbreak has resulted in 141 fatalities, marking a case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.2 percent — higher than the 18.3 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.
In its latest situation report, the agency noted a spike in new infections during epidemiological week 20, with 13 cases reported from Edo, Ondo, and Benue states, compared to just three in the preceding week.
The report highlighted that 72 percent of all confirmed cases originated from just three states: Ondo (30%), Bauchi (25%), and Edo (17%).
The remaining 28 percent were spread across 15 other states. The most affected age group was individuals between 21 and 30 years, with a median age of 30, and a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. No new infections were reported among healthcare workers during the week under review.
In response to the outbreak, the national multi-sectoral Incident Management System for Lassa fever has been activated across all levels to enhance coordination and containment efforts.
Separately, the NCDC reported 192 confirmed cases of meningitis from 2,911 suspected cases between September 30, 2024, and April 6, 2025, across 24 states and 173 LGAs. The outbreak led to 225 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 7.7 percent.
Children aged 5 to 14 were identified as the most affected demographic, with males accounting for 60 percent of the confirmed cases. Ten states — Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Sokoto, Borno, Adamawa, Kano, and Bauchi — were responsible for 97 percent of all suspected cases, with Kebbi alone reporting 1,423 cases.
To combat the rising toll, the NCDC has activated a national Emergency Operations Centre in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and international development partners.
Weekly coordination meetings with affected states are ongoing to streamline the response.
The health agency reaffirmed its commitment to leading the national response efforts, providing technical support to heavily affected regions, and enhancing disease preparedness and control at both federal and sub-national levels.
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