The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a total of 366 deaths from Lassa fever and meningitis in the country, highlighting the continued public health challenge posed by these diseases.

From January 1 to May 18, 2025, the NCDC confirmed 733 cases of Lassa fever from 5,118 suspected infections across 18 states and 95 local government areas.

Within the same period, the country recorded 141 Lassa fever-related deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 19.2 per cent.

Separately, between September 30, 2024, and April 6, 2025, the NCDC confirmed 192 cases of meningitis from 2,911 suspected cases spanning 24 states and 173 LGAs. During this period, meningitis accounted for 225 deaths, with a CFR of 7.7 per cent.

According to the NCDC?s latest Lassa fever situation report, there was a surge in infections during epidemiological week 20, with 13 new cases reported in Edo, Ondo, and Benue states ? up from just three in the previous week.

?Cumulatively in week 20, 2025, 141 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 19.2 per cent, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2024 (18.3 per cent). In total for 2025, 18 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 95 LGAs,? the report stated.

It further revealed that 72 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from three states: Ondo (30 per cent), Bauchi (25 per cent), and Edo (17 per cent). The remaining 28 per cent of cases were spread across 15 other states.

The most affected age group is 21?30 years, with a median age of 30. The male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases is 1:0.8. The NCDC noted a decline in both suspected and confirmed Lassa fever cases compared to the same period in 2024. No new infections were reported among healthcare workers during the week under review.

To coordinate the response, the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated at all levels.

On meningitis, the NCDC reported that children aged 5?14 were the most affected, with males accounting for 60 per cent of all cases.

?97 per cent of all suspected cases are reported from 10 states ? Kebbi (1,423), Katsina (302), Jigawa (160), Yobe (165), Gombe (77), Sokoto (450), Borno (84), Adamawa (38), Kano (38), and Bauchi (81),? the agency stated.

In response, the NCDC has activated a national multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate efforts in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and other development partners. Weekly meetings are held with affected states to streamline response efforts.

The centre assured that it will continue to lead the national response, providing technical support both on-site and remotely, particularly to high-burden states, and strengthening preparedness and response activities at the sub-national level. (The PUNCH)

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